Making the Transition from an Assistant to A Leader

In life, we are always trying to achieve something greater. It may be a personal goal, or something that we are trying to accomplish in the professional world. Last semester I had the opportunity of being the PR assistant as well as an assistant account executive for Tehama Group Communications. This semester, I accomplished one of my personal and professional goals of becoming a leader at TGC. I was given the opportunity of becoming the organization’s PR director and an assistant account executive for the fall 2015 team. The transition of becoming a leader has been exciting and overwhelming, but all around a great experience.

I would like to share some tips on how to make the transition from being an assistant and stepping into the role of a leader a little bit easier.

1. Communication

I feel that effective communication within your team is one of the greatest qualities a good leader can possess. When you are managing a group, big or small, you want to make sure that there is an open two-way flow of communication. You want your team to know that they have a voice and feel as though they are being heard. Being able to interact with them will allow meetings to run smoothly and for everyone to stay on the same page. The best communicators are in turn the best listeners, and I find both of those qualities to be very important in being an excellent leader. It is crucial that you listen to your team’s advice, because they tend to have insight on things you may not have been aware of and their knowledge can be extremely valuable.

2. Set Goals

Setting goals is a major priority. Goals should be realistic and under a set timeline. Create a plan to accomplish each one. A goal can easily be overlooked or forgotten about if you don’t write it down and make it clear to everyone involved. When you visually see an objective in front of you, it will always be on your mind and you’ll work harder to reach it. In the beginning, some goals may seem very difficult to achieve. However, if you persistently work together, you’ll be surprised at the amazing things that can be accomplished.

3. Delegation of Tasks

Delegating tasks has been one of the most difficult transitions I have had to step into in a leadership role. It’s never fun being the person telling people what to do, but it needs to be done. I am the kind of person that doesn’t like to ask for help, so have found myself trying to undertake too many tasks alone. This semester, I’ve had to ask my teammates for more help than ever. I’ve found that ultimately, people are more willing to contribute their time than you’d think. When its time to delegate tasks, don’t be afraid to ask for support. That’s what your team is there for, and it will help get things accomplished much more efficiently.

4. Share Your Knowledge

Sharing your knowledge is one of the most important tips I can give on stepping into a leadership role. Be the figure your team feels they can ask questions and learn from. I know exactly what all of the new members of TGC are going through, because I was once in the same position. It wasn’t until I spoke up and asked questions that I found how helpful the leaders around me could be. There is an abundance of information that I have learned from my colleagues and it’s important to share that intelligence with others. I have learned that when you share your knowledge, others are more willing to share their own with you. This is an opportunity as a leader to learn more about your team and unearth everything they can bring to the table.

These are just a few of the things I have learned as I made the transition from an assistant to a leader this semester. I hope that you find them as valuable as I do.

By Travis Martin, Public Relations Director