How to grow beyond your skillset: a self-check for leaders 

The self-check

• Do you have a tendency to take on too much work?
• Do you find it hard to delegate to your team?
• Do you still have a specialist mindset?
• Is your approach generally more reactive than proactive?
• Are you hyper-focused on how your function is performing?
• Do you think strategically about how it could better contribute to the business’s growth plans?
• Have you analyzed what you need to flourish professionally and personally in your new role?

How to grow beyond your skillset

Significant changes in career direction, such as advancing from managing a particular business unit or function (finance, IT) to having a broader leadership position, usually require a mindset shift. The following are simple strategies to help make the transition:

Accept it’s time for your team to step up

Allow your team to take on more responsibility – give them the autonomy and trust they need to thrive in their roles.

Think strategically

Broadening your leadership aptitudes requires you to think more strategically about your role. Temper the desire to focus on the needs of one business unit, and adopt a broader organizational lens.

Be proactive

If you have joined a new organization or function, bear in mind that the culture may be very different: where specialization may have been highly valued in your previous role, you will likely need to be more proactive about immediate business and growth objectives in your new one.

Adapt your style

Be prepared to adapt your style in your new role. You may need to be more direct and forthright with recommendations that touch the whole organization, and not wait for guidance and information from peers or superiors.