© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2015. All rights reserved.

www.YourFirstLeadershipJob.com

#YourFirstLeadershipJob

Success Profile ChecklistBonus Tool

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© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2015. All rights reserved.

Your First Leadership Job

Congratulations! You’re now in charge. Perhaps it’s your first time as a leader,or maybe you want to fine-tune your skills. Either way, you’ve begun one of themost rewarding chapters of your career. But, like many beginnings, the first fewyears can be challenging. Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle this challengeon your own. Your First Leadership Job gives you practical advice straight from others who have walked in your shoes. Not only does it include dozens oftools to ensure your success, it’s also based on the authors’ and DDI’s extensiveexperience and research, which ultimately have led to the development of millions of leaders around the world. In fact, a quarter-million leaders will bedeveloped this year alone via DDI training.

Your First Leadership Job is divided into two sections. Part 1 introduces the concept of catalyst leader—one who sparks energy, passion, and commitmentin others. Your transition to catalyst leader is a major step in your leadershipjourney. This book provides essential tips to put you on the catalyst path. Ultimately, leadership is about the many conversations—frequent, clear, authentic, and occasionally difficult—that you will have daily. Your First Leadership Job builds awareness of the fundamental skills you’ll come to rely onto make every one of these interactions successful.

Part 2 devotes 13 chapters to critical core leadership competencies, includingcoaching for success, hiring the best employees, turning dreaded appraisals intodiscussions that propel performance, and handling difficult employees. It alsoincludes a chapter for first-time female leaders.

Look at Your First Leadership Job as an indispensable companion to becomingan awesome leader—one who will make a positive, lasting impact on your team,family, and career. Visit www.YourFirstLeadershipJob.com to learn more.

Introduction

BECOMING THE VERY BEST FIRST-TIME LEADER

TACY M. BYHAM, Ph.D., is theCEO of Development Dimen-sions International (DDI). Tacy

has worked with dozens of global organiza-tions, creating custom solutions to improvetheir leaders’ performance. She believes thatbetter leadership is not only about the work-place, but also about better communities and,ultimately, a better world.

RICHARD S. WELLINS, Ph.D.,is a global expert in leadershipdevelopment. Your First Leader-

ship Job is Rich’s fifth book on talent manage-ment, including the best-seller, EmpoweredTeams. His research has been featured in Fortune, Business Week, CNBC, NPR, BBC,and Forbes.

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© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2015. All rights reserved.

Your First Leadership Job

14

EXPERIENCE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

❏ In-depth knowledge of yourcompany’s products, services,and customers

❏ Understanding of how your teamfits into the overall organization

❏ Familiar with various companypolicies/processes

❏ Business acumen, includingunderstanding companystrategy, competition, supplychain, financial metrics

❏ Knowledge of your chosen field(e.g., fiff nanii ce, marketirr ngi , IT)

KNOWLEDGE COMPETENCIES

❏ Leading a cross-functionalor special team

❏ Providing feedback to others

❏ Coaching/Mentoring

❏ Planning and managing complex projects

❏ Working closely with internal/external customers

❏ Making difficult decisions

❏ Having functional experiencein one or more disciplines(e.g., sales, IT, R&D)

❏ Navigating organization politics

Enablers:

❏ Enjoys being with other people

❏ Desire to continually learn

❏ High achievement orientation/driver for results

❏ Sensitive to the needs/concernsof others

Derailers:

❏ Always seeking praise andapproval from others

❏ Overly self-confident, dismissive of others’ ideas

❏ Inability to read others’ intentions

❏ Indecisive, can’t make decisions

❏ Micromanaging/Controlling others

❏ Difficulty controlling emotions

❏ Building trust

❏ Delegating responsibility

❏ Planning and organizing

❏ Selecting talent

❏ Facilitating change

❏ Decision making

❏ Coaching

❏ Fostering innovation

❏ Building a successful team

❏ Creating networks

Frontline Leadership Success ProfileWrite an “S” in each box that represents a strength. Write a “D” in each boxthat represents a development need for you.

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