What Got You Here May Not Serve You

One of the hardest things for a successful executive to recognize is that the behaviors that got you here may not be the behaviors that get you to the next level.

We have all heard the phrase "what got you here may not get you to the next level." I see this in my coaching with very successful leaders who are transitioning into bigger roles.

Success reinforces behavior. You become known for being decisive, so you make more decisions yourself. You are rewarded for having the answers, so you keep providing them. You build a reputation for getting things done, so you step in when others are struggling. You become the person everyone relies on.

And then, at some point, those same strengths can begin to limit you.

The challenge at more senior levels of leadership is rarely about abandoning what made you successful. It is about developing more range. Knowing when to step in and when to step back. When to provide the answer and when to ask the question. When to drive for execution and when to create space for others to lead. When to rely on a strength and when to recognize that you may be overusing it.

This is one reason executive coaching can be so valuable. It creates a place to examine not just your development opportunities, but also the strengths and habits that have served you extraordinarily well.

A question worth considering: What behavior helped me become successful at this level, but could prevent me from being successful at the next one?

Sometimes the next stage of leadership development is not about adding something new. It is about learning when to use what you already have.