I will be given responsibility as Team Leader after one month of working in my team. It’s a new team of only two people. What is the first thing that I should do after they announce that I am a Team Leader?

The Team Doc Says..

Well congratulations to you! If you’ve never been a team leader before, starting out small is a good way to go. But small teams can have as many (if not more) challenges than big teams. So here’s some advice I’ve given others in your situation that will help you.

In my post regarding a new team leader wanting to make the team effective again, the key to success is in communicating with each team member and then gather as a group to move the team forward.

You should also take a look at the team building forum discussion on a new team leader who is managing four peers. Please feel free to participate in that discussion or start a new thread.

You can get to the “New Team Leaders” section of the team building forum by clicking here.

There’s nothing like using the first 100 days on the job to take advantage of newbie-ness and set the tone for what is to come. And, in reality, the work of a true leader starts way before day one on the job. If you are a new leader or plan on moving into a leadership role, here are some key actions you need to take to be successful.

• Find out who the key stakeholders are for your area of responsibility. These are both internal and external contacts that will help enable your success. You’ll want to look across all levels of the organization, make a list and then prioritize it. Make sure you connect with administrative staff. These people are the glue that hold a company together and can make your transition to your new role much smoother.
• Schedule 30 minute meetings with as many of your stakeholders as possible. Face to face is ideal, but if it’s not doable, you could use video chat or the telephone. Your objective during these discussions is to listen, not sell your agenda. This will be critical as you move into your new role. You want to know what is important to these people and learn about the culture of the organization.
• Ensure the little details are taken care of for your first day on the job — office space, phone and computer set up, keys and ID badge are a few things that come to mind. You don’t want to waste precious time on the first day drowning in minutiae.
• Read any important business documents like policies and procedures and the operations manual.
• Prepare your action plan for Day One of your new role based on what you have learned about stakeholders and company culture. Make sure you set aside time during your first month to find out more about your team members — what their goals are, how they fit in the big picture, and what they need from you (as their leader) to do their job to the best of their ability.

It’s tough to walk into an organization as a new team leader and get instant respect. Be aware that every action you take, and every word you say will be scrutinized and set the tone for the days to come.

What do you think? Have I missed something? Please add your thoughts.

P.S. A really good book is The New Leaders 100 Day Action Plan. It's a great guide to use when moving into a new role. You can get a copy at amazon by clicking here.

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I coach high school baseball. Many of this year’s seniors have played together for 7-8 years and are more like brothers. That being the case, many are reluctant to attempt a leadership role and most won’t allow any of the others to take on that role because they don’t want to feel subservient. When challenged, they become defensive and sarcastic. It is increasingly difficult to motivate them to play up to their individual and team abilities. Do you have any suggestions?

The Team Doc Says…

I think a lesson (or two!) in leadership is in order. First of all, leadership is not a title. It’s a set of behaviors that are demonstrated on a daily basis.

Leadership means the person has the ability to create a vision of the future and inspire others to develop and follow the path that results in the achievement of that vision. Leadership is not at all having a subservient team of people who can be ordered around. Quite the contrary.

What might help you out is to find some baseball heroes who were great leaders on their team and use them as examples. As a team, identify what leadership behaviors made that hero successful. Then have your team go through an exercise to identify key behaviors in each team member. Talk about how those behaviors translate into leadership skills and compare to the great leaders in baseball.

You won’t be able to do this overnight, but spend a small amount of time each day and you’ll help them discover what leadership is all about.

I have just accepted a Director’s role in a Contact Center within the Telecommunication industry. I am very excited but at the same time, a little nervous of what to expect as far as welcoming from the current Operations Managers and Supervisors. I would like a few tips on how to break the ice on the first few days.

The Team Doc Says…

Congratulations on your new position!

What an opportunity you have before you. Your best bet is to make sure you get out and about and learn what matters to the people who are on your team.

One of the best tools to guide you is the book The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels. It will help you create an action plan to get the most out of your first three months on the job and set you up for success.

Do you have additional suggestions reader? Please leave a comment.