Transition from A Manager to An Executive Leader

The impact of a high-level executive transition can hardly be ignored by any organization. It is believed that if a leadership transition succeeds, it bears fruits to the organization for several years. However, the transition from managerial role to executive leadership is not easy. This is why dynamic organizations take all necessary measures including help of executive leadership program to ensure their top managers become top leaders.

The responsibilities at executive level are much greater and difficult than at managerial levels. Their decisions and actions have strong influence on the course of the business, for better or worse. Yet, despite the high stakes, leaders are usually underprepared and under-supported during the transition to new roles. Helping new executive to succeed is an essential element for an organization that should not be undermined.

Before getting into how to achieve successful transition, we must delve into what factors are involved in the transition. This stems from the difference in roles of the two –manager and executive. The skills and responsibilities of a manager differ from that of an executive. While managerial role is limited to successful execution of project and effective team management, generating competitive value, the role of executive leaders is much broader. They have to deal with critical business decisions and processes including:

1. Developing competent managers

2. Creating leadership teams

3. Reducing long-term overhead costs

4. Anchoring transformation changes

5. Making culture a competitive advantage

6. Developing a vision and strategy that add value to the organization

Skills for manager-executive leader transition

Managers who aspire to take on senior leadership role in the C-suite must possess a mix of management skills and leadership capabilities. Here is a list of skills considered as pre requisites for managers to excel as executive leaders:

1. Connect well with people, build trust & credibility through effective interactions

2. Have a vision for the future, make work meaningful that inspires others

3. Enable coordination through clear agreements that can be trusted

4. Identify opportunities for change and can lead the organization to execute a new path forward

5. Keep acquiring and improving knowledge and skills

6. Have an open mind to new ideas and willing to create something new, not bound by old formulas

7. Able to factor in the needs of every part of an organization, not just the areas in which they have the expertise.

8. Good emotional intelligence like empathy, relationship management, self-awareness, and social awareness. This can be achieved by practicing listening skills, being open to constructive criticism, and staying self-aware.

Developing and mastering these capabilities come with practice and good leadership development training programs. It’s a path of building strengths that can shape the future of the organization.

Common mistakes that make the transition from manager to executive role unfruitful

1. Waiting to reach the position to learn the desired skills

2. Go solo, instead of collaborating with others

3. Complacent with current skills, considering it enough for next position

4. Learning just to meet job requirements, with no curiosity to learn about the bigger and rapidly changing world.

The business world needs leaders who can make a difference. If you are about to make that big leap from manger to executive leader or you are already there and want to improve your capabilities, then don’t hesitate to take help from experts.

Wait no longer! Contact us and we’ll help you master leadership skills and set new benchmarks for others to follow.