This blog is part of an expert commentary series written by Natasha Reddrop, Learning Designer, Women & Leadership Australia. 

Stepping into a leadership role for the first time is an exciting yet challenging experience. It’s natural to feel both exhilarated and uncertain, as you navigate the new responsibilities that come with leading a team. Whether it’s building trust through honesty, learning to delegate, or staying adaptable to change, the path to becoming a great leader involves constant development and a willingness to grow alongside your team. Read our 5 top tips for new leaders below.
 

1. You don’t need to know how to be a great leader at the start 

It’s exciting but also daunting to be given your first leadership role, and like any other new undertaking, there will be a learning curve. It’s okay to be honest with your team members about being new to leadership, and even to admit to being unsure about the best way to approach things. Your honesty and self-awareness will help to build trust, as your team will see that you are not pretending to know it all! Being authentic is an important leadership attribute, and much better for your work relationships than false confidence. If you’re unsure about the best way to do something, consult your team.  

2. You don’t have to be the expert on everything 

Hopefully, you were hired or promoted into your job because of your leadership potential, not just because of technical ability – those two things don’t always go together. You don’t have to know the answer to every question to be a good leader. Remember that the people who work for you will be better than you at a lot of things, and that’s as it should be. Trust them to do what they are good at.  

3. Learn how to delegate 

A key part of being an effective leader, rather than a micromanager, is learning how to delegate properly. Delegation, done well, helps team members to build their skills and confidence, increases the team’s resilience to difficult situations, and disperses the workload appropriately. Dumping work on people that you don’t want to do or are too busy for is not delegation. Learn how to hand responsibilities over in a way that empowers the person taking them on: with proper training, realistic goals and ongoing support as needed. Be clear about which things much be done in a particular way, and which things are up to the person’s discretion. Remember that the way someone else does something will always be different to how you would do it, and THAT IS OK.  

4. Be open-minded about change 

Take the opportunity of being new to investigate whether change is needed. Really listen to your team members – most of them will have dozens of ideas about how things could be improved. Aaron Painter recommends going on a “listening tour” – ask questions of your team, your peers, your customers and other stakeholders, and really listen to what they have to say.  Then make a to-do list and get started. Try to be open-minded! You might even explore the “Four Doors of Change” framework to guide your thinking and actions, helping you identify practical pathways for improvement and transformation. Showing that you are willing to try new things will encourage your team members to be innovative. 

5. Keep learning 

Leadership is a skillset all its own. There will never be a time when you can say, “I know everything I need to know about being a leader.” Prioritise your professional development as a leader—whether it’s through reading, observing others, reflecting on your own approach, or participating in dedicated leadership programs. Keep evolving with your role. Remember it’s also okay to discard old ways of doing things once you realise they’re not helping. 

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”  – Maya Angelou 

Further reading: 

• What new leaders should do (HBR, Antonella Pisani)  

• Book mentioned by Aaron Painter: Loyal: Listen or you always lose