Stepping into a senior leadership role is about more than simply managing a bigger team. It requires a new mindset, focus, and definition of success. If you’re finding this transition to be harder than you expected, you’re not alone. Here’s how to recalibrate your approach. Coach, don’t solve. You’re no longer the go-to problem solver. Your value now lies in helping your managers become confident decision-makers. Instead of offering answers, ask strategic questions. Let them wrestle with complexity so they build their own judgment. It may feel uncomfortable at first—but your silence can be more powerful than your solution. Drive impact through others. Your hands-on habits won’t scale. Focus on creating the conditions for high performance, not overseeing every task. Strategic conversations, mentoring, and alignment now define your productivity. As a leader, many of your wins won’t come with instant gratification but will instead surface over time—for example, the feedback you give a manager today might translate to higher performance next quarter. Build systems, not bottlenecks. You can’t track everything—nor should you try. Identify the few issues that demand your direct attention and set clear escalation guidelines. Use dashboards and written updates for visibility. The goal is to enable autonomy while staying informed. Make it a great day! |