My Daughter’s First Leadership Job
Several years ago my daughter entered university studying business with a major in event management. This had been her career aspiration for quite some time and I was thrilled when she also managed to secure a part-time job with a local function centre as an event coordinator.
The first few months went very well. She was quickly immersed in the role and found herself taking on more and more responsibility. Her manager was full of praise for her efforts and contributions, and she quickly built positive working relationships with peers and other members of the team. She was loving her work and gaining great experience that was also helping with her studies.
About 6 months into the role she came home from her shift and informed me that she had been asked to take on more responsibility and lead a team. How great! Her manager had recognised her drive and identified qualities that she believed would set her up for a leadership role. As both a parent and a practitioner in the leadership development field, I was naturally proud.
But then I saw the fear in her eyes. While she was obviously thrilled to receive the recognition, I could tell from her reaction that the change to first-time leadership filled her with significant doubt and anxiety.
It reminded me how tough that first leadership transition can be. From managing former peers to motivating others, the emotional transition that one experiences is often more difficult than building the requisite skill set. While a promotion is often a reward for having been a successful individual contributor, we often underestimate the significant personal impact of this change.
Transitions occur at all levels along the leadership pipeline, and the one thing we should never underestimate is the personal transition that individuals go through as they move from one level to the next. Research shows that a transition to a leadership position is among life’s most challenging adjustments, ranking up there with personal illness and major life events. In fact, in a DDI study of leadership transitions, only one in three leaders felt they were effective at handling the challenges associated with a new leadership role.
For first-time leaders the stress associated with these transition challenges can be particularly acute. And, for a 19 year-old with little work experience, it can be terrifying. The transitional challenges at the front line take many forms, but typically include:
Relinquishing responsibility and getting things done through others
Directing and coaching former peers
Increasing personal commitment to the company and its goals
Achieving both individual (personal) and team results
Directing team activities (vs. individual activities)
Representing the team
In terms of resources, my daughter was lucky. She was able to leverage some great resources that I had access to, as well as her own personal coach—me!
This close-to-home experience was a reminder that leadership is a human endeavour, but too often we treat leadership as a clinical and precise discipline. We talk about leadership in terms of accountabilities and responsibilities but forget that, behind every leadership role is a person who is trying to do their best in an environment of changing expectations and uncertainty. It has also reminded me that as leadership development practitioners, we have been presented with a wonderful gift—the opportunity to play a central role in preparing better leaders for all domains of life.
Six years later and my daughter is building her own a career in leadership development. I’d like to think that moment and the support she received allowed her to see the impact that leaders can have and the incredible privilege it is to support leaders in their journey.
Mark Busine