The top issue C-level executives struggle with when making the transition to leader is “loneliness,” Dubai-based career coach Noona Nafousi told Arabian Business on the AB Majlis podcast.
In a candid conversation on AB Majlis, Nafousi, who has coached numerous high-level executives in the region, shared invaluable tips for new leaders to navigate this transition successfully.
Approximately 87 percent of her clients are CEOs or C-level executives who often find themselves lacking a support system to address their leadership challenges.
“They can’t go to the board and say: ‘I’m really struggling’ or ‘I’m being too agreeable in the board meeting’ or ‘I’m really struggling with doing a presentation to 100 people.’ Who are they going to say that to? Will they confide in the board or their peers from other companies? Or would they turn to their subordinates?”
Loneliness and imposter syndrome are two significant hurdles faced by new leaders.
“Loneliness is a big one, and also, the other one is imposter syndrome because they’re kind of wondering: ‘Am I doing the right thing? Should I be here?'” said Nafousi.
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When it comes to transitioning from a managerial role to a leadership position, Nafousi highlighted the absence of a dedicated training school.
“I don’t think there’s an actual training school to go from manager to director or manager to leader. So there is a big mindset shift, and I see that a lot with the clients that I work with. One of the main shifts is really having a growth mindset,” she added, emphasising the importance of embracing failure and fostering a growth mindset.
Doing so will allow both leaders and their teams to learn and grow from mistakes.
“As a leader, you are going to have to deal with things going wrong and not allowing it to affect you and really embracing failure. I think the more you can do that, and actually allow your team – to fail because it means that they’ve taken action – that’s a really big one: the growth mindset.”
Adopting a service-oriented mindset is another key aspect that can greatly benefit leaders.
“It’s no longer just about you. When you start your career, you think about increasing your targets, how you can do more, getting your bonus or your commission. But as a leader, it’s very much a team orientation,” Nafousi explained.
Building trust within the team is crucial for leaders to garner greater respect and foster growth.
“You can only take your team as far as you can take yourself.”
She encouraged leaders to shift from a control-oriented approach to one of empowerment.
Nafousi pointed out that excessive control often stems from a lack of trust, both in the team and in oneself.
“A lot of the coaching that I do with companies and individuals is to empower leaders, but to get them to empower themselves. It’s about learning to develop a relationship with yourself where you trust yourself, and then you can trust your team.”
“If they’re saying: my team is really disrespecting me or they don’t really listen to me, really what they’re doing is describing the relationship they have with themselves.”
To listen to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of doing business in the Gulf region, visit our RSS feed or check out AB Majlis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Tune in every Monday for weekly episodes that will help you stay ahead of the curve and enrich your understanding of the Gulf region.
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