You did it, you got the job! You’ve been working as a clinician in a helping profession and had leadership in your sights for a while, and now you’ve landed your dream job in a leadership role.
Things may have started off smoothly, but cracks start to emerge. That old friend called Imposter Syndrome comes for a visit and over-stays their welcome. At first it was; “I don’t know what I don’t know”, but now things have moved swiftly into “I know what I don’t know” – and there’s a lot I don’t know.
I’ve been working in leadership roles for the better part of ten years now; and the above scenario was absolutely me. I’ve also supported new leaders in their own journeys, and this experience is a common one. Great clinicians are promoted (deservingly) into leadership roles, and whilst there are transferrable skills from clinical work into people management (think: active listening, showing empathy; it’s a whole different ball game. The same skills that might have been helpful working directly with clients don’t seem to cut the mustard now.
I’ve listed the top three challenges facing new leaders, and some key steps to help overcome them:
Lack of support:
Unfortunately, a lot of organisations in this industry do not provide adequate leadership training, support and development for new leaders and often times, staff in these roles can be left feeling stuck, lost, overwhelmed and may be heading for burn out. New leaders need time, support, guidance and grace.
If you are a new leader who is feeling lost, look for a mentor. This could be someone in your organisation, but it can also be someone external. There are huge benefits to having an external leadership mentor or supervisor, including an increased sense of psychological safety when confiding in this person.
Look for a mentor who aligns with your values and has a similar experience, knowledge and skill-set to you. It’s okay to ask for help. Enrol in leadership development training; good leaders are made, not born.
Low confidence:
This is closely tied to a lack of support. You might have felt confident as a clinician, but this leadership stuff is new territory. Humans love to feel capable and competent in what they’re doing, and if we don’t it can lead to an increase in stress levels, feelings of overwhelm and eventually burnout.
Spend time getting to know yourself as a leader; explore your values, strengths and areas for development. Think about how you want others to experience your leadership versus how they are really experiencing it? Are there any incongruencies there? What’s getting in the way of you being the leader you want to be? You can use tools like a 360 Feedback Survey or the Johari Window to help uncover any blind spots or areas for development.
Time pressures: Feeling like there isn’t enough time to “get it all done” as a new (or even established) leader is common.
In leadership roles, we’re expected to support the team, get the report done, approve the timesheets, order the resources, organise, book, allocate, manage; the list goes on. Reality is; the to-do list will never get completed. Or if it does, what’s the cost? If it means working until midnight every day, or ignoring calls, emails or not nurturing relationships with your team; then is it really worth ticking off every item from that to-do list? You can only do what you can in the hours of the day you have at work; nothing is worth losing your health or wellbeing over.
There will also be competing priorities and crises are guaranteed in this line of work; expect the unexpected. Next time this happens, think to yourself; “whose urgency is this?” Be clear on a deadline. Look at who else you could bring in to help with this task. In my experience, the most important thing is having safe and trusting relationships with your team.
If the “only” thing you get done today is that you supported a staff member navigate a tricky situation, then I think that’s a day well spent. The short and long term benefits of tending to your relationships with staff far outweigh prioritising crossing things off your to-do list. It’s important as a new leader to learn skills for identifying priorities and how to balance tasks with relationships.
If you identify with these challenges, it may be worth considering investing in leadership training &/or mentorship. Having an experienced, trusted leadership guide has so many benefits, including:
Increased job satisfaction
Increased career advancement opportunities
Better outcomes with your teams & clients
Burnout prevention
Want More???
If you are interested in ethical, practical & inspiring leadership training drop Jen a line at jen@mindfulrecovery.com.au
Check out Jen's interview on the Cuckoo podcast for more about leadership: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-4h5ie-16798db
Coming up 14th August 2024: 1-Day Workshop at Erina- Leadership Essentials
This will be an amazing day of learning that will inspire you to grow as a leader in your field. Don’t miss it!!!
Bookings available at: http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/f7e8599f-a2c7-46c3-9f01-695184675a2f/3fd666ed-6934-4ff1-a13f-d9ae036d09ae
About the Author:
Jen Gibbons is a PACFA accredited counsellor & has worked extensively throughout health, community & human services in clinical, consulting & leadership roles.
Jen currently holds the role of Clinical Team Leader at Mindful Recovery Services, where she provides clinical care & guidance in the area of complex & risky mental health presentations.
Jen is available for individual & group clinical supervision, as well as team training & leadership workshops.
Jen loves to design bespoke training for teams working in the health, community & human services sector in order to improve outcomes for service users & professionals alike.
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