Embarking on your first executive role is a significant and exciting career transition. But it’s important to recognize that this isn’t just a step up in what you’ve always done well; it’s a fundamentally different journey, brimming with unique challenges.

As a new executive, you can no longer think just for a team or part of the organization. Now, you must simultaneously consider the contexts of the entire organization and the systemic impact of your decisions. You are expected to:

• Shift from Tactical to Strategic: Move away from hands-on control, embracing ambiguity and complexity with skill and adaptability.
• Build and Navigate Relationships: Forge and sustain positive relationships at all levels, both within and outside your organization. This involves empowering others, influencing masterfully, skillfully handling political nuances and building a valuable network.
• Adopt New Perspectives: Transition from an inside-out focus to an outside-in approach, looking beyond immediate results to forecast far into an uncertain future.
• Think Systemically: Beyond just your team or department, your considerations must now encompass the entire organization, understanding the broader impacts of your decisions.
• Develop Executive Presence: Grow in confidence and presence, learning to engage appropriately with former peers, senior executives, and board members.
• Manage Stress and Build Resilience: Stay resilient amid relentless change and adversity, avoiding overwhelm and keeping stress at bay for yourself and your teams.

And this is just a start!

It is hardly surprising that almost half of new executive appointments derail within 12-24 months! Even those who have been through business school programs and executive coaching feel unprepared.