[February 5, 2016] In the military one of the most stressful of times for soldiers is when a unit gains a new commander. It’s not because the new commander is unknown, although that is part of it, but because not everybody is ready to a leader at the commander level. Studies have shown that leaders make their most mistakes within the first 100 days of assuming that position.
Not everybody is ready to be a leader. While that may seem an obvious proposition, the reasoning may not be. The military selects new commanders for their potential. They know that the person incoming to a leadership job will not be fully knowledgeable and experienced. Such is the fact of human existence. There will be, therefore, some time for the new leader to “learn the ropes,” to get to know the people, and learn the lessons of previous leaders.
How does anyone know whether they are ready for leadership? Are there any red flags that might indicate they’re not ready? There are a few markers and here are some of them:
- Indecisive on key decisions
- Lack balance in their life
- Micromanager
- Unable to connect to people
- Lack social skills and grace
- Not sufficiently resilient
There are some deficiencies that can be conquered with time and patience. Any leader stepping into a new position must be aware that they are responsible from the first day but, at the same time, they must also know they lack the knowledge to do it all. However, here are some of those makers that can be overcome:
- Lack relevant experiences
- Lacks knowledge of the key issues of the organization
- Insufficient professional network
- Technically insufficient
“No man is worth is salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.” – Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President
Leaders who are socially and professionally balanced can adapt to most any change, including successfully acquiring a new leadership position. They can also do it without major disruption. They must know how, for example, to put the new organization at ease and yet pull them up to improve their performance.
It is a truism that not everybody is ready to be a leader but with time, proven skills, and a balanced portfolio of experiences, they will succeed.
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