What do you do if your problem-solving and decision-making skills are lacking as an entry level leader?

When you hit the leadership level, you do not get a manual handed over to you on a plate. This is when it gets harder the higher up the ladder you go because you do not only do your job but also care, monitor, watch, assist, nurture, coach, lead, study, listen, empathise, sympathise, train, guide, etc. You are watched by everyone before they decide to follow your lead or not. Therefore, you will never stop trial and error until you get it right. You will be assessed not just by your superior but by the entire team that you interact with.

Feedback is a very [powerful tool as long as it's received and acted upon. Soliciting feedback is a great way to learn and better understand where you can get better. This includes both positive feedback as well as constructive. All too often we ignore the positive feedback and focus on the constructive feedback. Continue to sharpen the saw of the things you do well and work to improve the areas you need to improve. Always be open to feedback but that's only 1 piece of the puzzle. You are ultimately responsible what's done with it! Continue to learn and and be better tomorrow than you were today!

1) Never, ever, stop learning. There are 10s of thousands of books and resources available. Be humble enough to dig in and continue to learn. 2) Talk to the leaders around you. Watch them. Listen to them. Somewhere within your circle will be people good at areas you are a novice. 3) MENTORS. Find mentors and listen to them. People willing to mentor others want to see you be successful.

Making lifelong learning a priority is essential. 1. Seek guidance and ongoing education from seasoned leaders to acquire tactics and insights. Participate in workshops and training courses to improve your abilities. 2. Develop confidence by making decisions in low-risk situations. When managing groups of people, promote cooperation and diversity of thought. 3. Use portfolio management strategies to assign resources and prioritise jobs appropriately. Accept constructive-criticism to pinpoint areas that need work and continuously hone abilities.

Since you are an entry level leader, you are new to leadership. You are not experienced. Therefore think of yourself as a student and learn continuously. Learn from your seniors, they will be your best guide. Take courses, attend seminars. Be confident and have a positive attitude. Take feedback for improvement.

Teamwork makes the dream work! Never think you're the smartest person in the room. There is something to learn from everyone. Collaboration is key. Sometimes it's difficult to see the forest through the trees. Different perspectives and ways of thinking are powerful. Trust others and actively listen to learn. What's the phrase, "power in numbers" use those around you to make things better.

To practice patience, one needs to be mindful and willing to make the incremental impressions in their head, then aligning it in your thoughts, feelings and expressions, once you start to attain the sense of clarification, congratulations you’re good to go with your decision makings.

Change is happening every minute of everyday. If you are unable to adapt to the ever changing landscape, you won't be around very long. Change can be scary but it can also be amazing! Embrace it! Take the time to understand the change from all different perspectives. Realize what the impact is if you don't adapt and how that impacts those around you. Good leaders embrace change, great leaders champion change. Be a champion!

Engage in role-playing exercises to simulate real-life leadership scenarios and practice making decisions under pressure. For example, organize group sessions where you and your peers take turns playing the role of a leader facing various challenges. This hands-on approach allows you to hone your problem-solving skills in a supportive environment while receiving immediate feedback from your peers. Role-playing builds confidence and helps you develop the ability to think critically and act decisively in a variety of situations you may encounter as a leader.

Seek out real-world problem-solving opportunities in your current role. For instance, if you're struggling with decision-making in a project, take the initiative to lead a brainstorming session with your team to explore possible solutions. By actively engaging in problem-solving situations, you gain hands-on experience and learn to navigate challenges effectively. This practical approach allows you to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, accelerating your growth as a problem-solver and decision-maker.

In my early days as a leader, one of the biggest changes to make was a mindset shift from taking direction and executing to now being responsible for future direction. My job was no longer to perform the analyses or write the documents, it was to anticipate what the department or company needs at this moment. Once that clicked, it became much easier to move towards decisions instead of waiting for someone else to make them

As a beginner, don't be discouraged by challenging decisions. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Recognize that each decision is unique, varying in complexity based on circumstances and stakeholders. Utilize the PLAN method: Problem identification, List options, Assess consequences, and Narrow down options. As the saying goes: "Everything worth doing well is worth doing poorly at first." Remember, growth often starts with imperfect attempts.

As a new leader, one may be slightly lacking in confidence. However, the best way to improve is to take on constructive criticism aimed at specific areas, and then seek to improve those areas. Therefore, good feedback from a trustworthy source is the first key point. Second, recognising that the feedback one has received is accurate and that it properly highlights areas for development. Once the feedback is received and accepted, then one can work on the areas highlighted and improve. Regular feedback will allow the individual in question to understand if they are improving. One must accept - difficult for many - that they are not perfect and fully-formed as a leader, and this is a brave step. However, it is critical in the long term.

Experience is irreplaceable, not even by a degree. As a young executive, it therefore makes a lot of sense to network with more experienced leaders. It's best to find a mentor. Moreover, as a leader, you don't have to solve all problems on your own. Just ask your team what solutions they see and make your decision based on that.

I feel these are few quick guide to boost your skills - Acknowledge your weaknesses. Seek feedback from mentors or colleagues. Dive into training programs or workshops. Practice regularly, both professionally and personally. Embrace failures as learning opportunities. Collaborate with your team for fresh perspectives. Stay organized to streamline your problem-solving process. Keep that curiosity alive! Explore new ideas and approaches.