Take a deep breath... I'm not saying that you should forget or unlearn what you already know - besides the fact that that's not really possible, they are part of your "foundation" so don't crack it.
All I'm saying is open yourself up to learn more - and new things. There is a sharp difference between Leaders and Managers/Supervisors - and many people including me*, have written about them.
One tip that I have employed which has helped me succeed is "Reverse Mentoring." Huh?! What's that?! Glad you had that reaction...it's exactly the same reaction a Senior Leader had when I shared with him that I was now in a new area and needed to learn a lot about. I proceeded to share with him that I had told my team members that I was new to the area and would expect "reverse mentoring." It sounded preposterous to him - his face said it all. "You mean you want your staff to "mentor" you?" He shook his head in disbelief so I proceeded to break it down for him. By the time I was done, he couldn't but agree that my idea was a good one. And if I may add, it was an idea that came from a place of humility.
So what is Reverse Mentoring? Simply put, it is learning from your team members - or others who may be surbordinate to or younger than you. The most successful leaders are those who know that life-long learning is key to progress (and promotion). They also know that if you manage your staff/team members well, they will manage the work - like one of my managers taught me a few years ago. So taking an interest in their work and understanding how and why they do what they do will increase your connection to them and your content.
"Learning and Leadership are indspensable from each other."
~ John F. Kennedy
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Enjoy the rest of the Mentoring Month!
References:
* Leader vs. Manager articles:
- Which are you?
- I may not be what you're used to
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