Significant career transitions.

I made a big mistake during one of these significant career transitions.

All transitions can be challenging. These three transitions are ones I have experienced a lot within my career. And I haven't always done things correctly!

The first time I became an organization leader - meaning there were multiple levels of my team: my employees had teams of their own and so forth - I made a mistake.

When I started into the organizational leadership role, HR led a new leader assimilation process. They interviewed my new team to get their input: "What questions do you have for Anne? What do you want her to know about the team or your role? What are you worried about?" Etc.

In those interviews, one voice said, "I don't need to hear from Anne. I will get information from my manager."

And I took that one voice as the one I listened to, when in my gut, it didn't feel right. I felt like I should be communicating with the entire organization, not just my direct staff, but that one voice said differently. I didn't hold all-employee meetings. My larger team rarely heard from me.

In one of my staff meetings, an employee asked me about it. I told him what I had heard from the new leader assimilation interviews. He let me know that the one voice wasn't a representation of everyone.

Duh. I knew that. But I chose to listen to only that one.

I made a change right away, and it felt so right to have town halls and all-hands meetings with my entire larger organization. I was upset to have not listened to my gut and, instead, listened to that one voice.

Now I know. And I can share tips with you so that you avoid my mistakes.

What's the most recent transition you have been through at work?