{"id":266,"date":"2026-01-26T17:28:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iablueprint.com\/blog\/?p=266"},"modified":"2026-01-26T17:28:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:28:23","slug":"my-top-6-tips-for-first-time-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iablueprint.com\/blog\/my-top-6-tips-for-first-time-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"My Top 6 Tips for First-Time Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a leader, everything depends on you. Between <\/span>learning to set leadership priorities<\/span><\/a>, manage a team, and make strategic decisions, there\u2019s a tough learning curve. Yet almost <\/span>60% of new managers<\/span><\/a> say they haven\u2019t received any formal leadership training. And a full <\/span>60% of new leaders<\/span><\/a> fail within their first two years on the job, largely due to this lack of training and support.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re leading your own company, you\u2019re even less likely to have formal training options. In-house mentorship is probably nonexistent. And the stakes are even higher, since you\u2019re leading not just a mid-level team but the entire company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing a leadership skill set isn\u2019t something that just happens naturally when you found a company or start building up your team. It means being intentional about developing yourself. This work never comes to an end, by the way. A few years ago, I realized I needed to strengthen my leadership skill set \u2014 even though I\u2019d worked hard at doing this for decades. Several family members and I had just bought a business from my father-in-law, and I had taken the reins. Despite having worked at an agency for 31 years, I needed a different set of skills to keep the business expanding. During the transition, we were going through some financial struggles. I needed to grow my ability to lead the team through stormy waters, make strategic decisions that would land us in a better spot, and lead people through change.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a challenging time, but I decided to be proactive. And ultimately, my efforts paid off in a big way. Read on as I share some hard-won lessons that have benefited my own growth throughout my journey as a leader. These tips for starting a new leadership role can shape your own development as a leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spend time in self-reflection.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most leaders consider themselves self-aware, but <\/span>only 10\u201315%<\/span> <\/a>actually are, research has found. So, assume that you\u2019re not as self-aware as you need to be. Increasing your self-awareness will help you relate to others better and regulate your own emotional state. And this starts with self-reflection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each morning, I began spending time reading a chapter in the Book of Proverbs until something spoke to me personally. When I felt like God was saying to me, \u201cHere\u2019s something you need to fix in yourself,\u201d I\u2019d stop and reflect on that passage. This practice formed part of my journey to greater self-awareness and self-improvement. I did this for a couple of months, and it launched the process of strengthening the qualities I needed to become the kind of leader I wanted to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, your practice doesn\u2019t have to look exactly like that. Maybe you like to journal, or maybe you prefer to read a chapter from a book on leadership and jot down notes about things that especially relate to you. Find a practice that brings new insights on your needs for growth, whatever it looks like.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a hard look at your character and abilities.<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Image source<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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The journey to becoming a better leader begins with being humble. Embrace the idea that you\u2019ll have to grow in order to reach the next level, which means stepping outside of your comfort zone. That\u2019s one of the most pivotal leadership tips for new managers that I can offer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About twenty years ago, I started evaluating my own character and identifying areas for improvement. I started by identifying the qualities needed for the leadership role I aspired to step into. After that, I took a hard look at where I fell short. Then, I methodically worked to make adjustments that would let me become a better leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

A similar approach involves looking at another leader that you respect. Find someone with the type of life, job, or company that you want to achieve. What qualities and skills does this person have? Then, work backward from there. Take stock of which qualities you might already have, and which ones you need to grow. Then, make a plan for how to cultivate each of those characteristics and abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can do this exercise at any point in your career, by the way. Several years back, I repeated this practice as I worked to enhance my skill set.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask people you trust for feedback.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most people\u2019s motto in life is, \u201cLie to me; I don\u2019t want to know the truth. I just want to know what\u2019s good.\u201d But if there\u2019s something to change, you need to know so you can fix it. You want to be ready to deal with challenges, to show up as your best self.<\/span><\/p>\n

By learning about your flaws from others\u2019 perspectives, you\u2019ll approach the future with eyes wide open so you can adapt to or handle change. Addressing your shortcomings will prepare you to confront the inevitable hurdles you\u2019ll encounter. This doesn\u2019t mean worrying about all the different variables that could affect your business; it means being realistic and proactive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be open to hearing about your own character flaws and skills gaps. Invite this feedback regularly. This might never feel easy. But the more you do it, the less scary it will be. You\u2019ll hear feedback less as a judgment and more as an observation of things that are changeable. And as you witness your own growth, you\u2019ll realize how deeply rewarding this whole process can be.<\/span><\/p>\n

On <\/span>Radical Candor<\/span><\/a>, Kim Scott shares pointers for gaining authentic feedback as a leader:<\/span><\/p>\n