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Your First Leadership Job

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Your First Leadership Job

How Catalyst Leaders Bring Out the Best in Others

Wiley,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

A pair of organizational psychologists helps you make the challenging transition into your first leadership job.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

For many people, becoming a new frontline supervisor or entry-level leader is the most challenging transition in their careers. Organizational psychologists Tacy M. Byham and Richard S. Wellins help you climb that ladder in this concise, step-by-step guide to navigating your first management role and launching yourself as a leader. Writing in an accessible, straightforward tone, Byham and Wellins provide much-needed advice and step-by-step instructions for novice managers. Their comprehensive manual touches on a variety of pivotal subjects, such as developing your leadership brand, creating a positive workplace culture, learning to inspire your team, harnessing your power to motivate others and finding your calling as a frontline leader. Each chapter provides reinforcement in the form of tests, practice drills and other aids. getAbstract recommends this toolbox to new leaders as well as to executives looking for a fresh perspective on leading today.

Summary

The New “Catalyst Leader”

Becoming a first-time leader is no easy feat. A full two-thirds of employees don’t feel confident in their abilities to manage the transition into a leadership role. However, with the right tools, anyone can learn to be a catalyst leader who inspires others to reach their full potential.

To serve as catalysts, leaders must develop an intimate knowledge of their organization. The excellent leader also tends to have a positive personality, motivation to lead and the ability to engage with others. Confident leaders are accountable and goal-oriented. They seek personal growth. They develop clear ideas and action plans. They operate based on personal authenticity, handle feedback well and help others perform at their best. A catalytic leader cultivates a trustworthy, honest workplace culture, which helps employees feel happier and be more productive. Such leaders steadily accrue experience and build their competence.

When you face the challenge of developing those characteristics, the hardest step is altering your personality to adapt to leadership. People with negative tendencies, such as arrogance, or with a propensity for thoughtless behavior...

About the Authors

Tacy M. Byham, PhD, is CEO of the talent management consultancy Development Dimensions International, where Richard S. Wellins, PhD, heads worldwide research and marketing. Wellins wrote five other books on leadership, including Empowered Teams.

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    D. O. 7 years ago
    Provides great insight on what to do and also what not to do to develop relationships and make the important connections with those who will help make the leadership experience successful.