RapidStart New Leader Survival Course

Course details

This purpose of this course is arm the new leader with concrete skills, tools and techniques to help them build trust, communicate effectively, establish authority, and lead their teams to get results.

Course Design:  This course was developed with three key things in mind:

1.  People often find themselves in a leadership position without the benefit of any training or preparation; they have to figure it out on the fly.

2.  These leaders are already fully engaged in their day job - there's not a lot of time to wade through volumes of abstract theory; they need concrete and immediate ways to master the leadership challenges they are facing right now.

3.  Like playing a trumpet or riding a bicycle, you can't learn leadership by just watching videos.  You have to put it into practice. 

Based on those premises, the course is designed to expose you to fundamental concepts and skills that you can apply immediately in the place of work.  Most videos are short (6-8 minutes), get straight to the point, and include a down-loadable cue sheet, guide, or form that summarizes the key points of the video, provides several action points, and a way you can apply those points.

Intended Design Result:  This organization allows you to watch a few lessons, print off the guides and cue sheets, take them to work, and put the new skills into practice immediately.

Course Description

The course has five modules, each with a specific focus.  The modules are arranged in a logical sequence that supports a new leader preparing to take on a leadership role, from the first meetings and building trust, to setting team goals and establishing a positive, productive team culture.

Module 1:  Get Ready

• Prepare for your first meeting with your boss and lay the groundwork for a successful working relationship
• Boost trust levels with your team on day one; use the six components of trust to elevate trust across your team
• Master simple non-verbal techniques that communicate your confidence to others
• Use motion to attract and hold attention, and to add power to your spoken words
• Downloads:  New Boss Interview Guide; Building Your Trust Account Guide

Module 2:  Establish Authority

• Identify competencies where you fall short and develop a plan to get smart while developing the trust of your experts
• Engage with your team on that first day in a way that calms their anxieties, garners respect, earns trust, and sets a positive tone for the future
• Connect with teammates in a way that grows trust, reduces fear, and helps you learn where you can have the greatest impact
• Gain the confidence of the team with an early victory, while avoiding four common pitfalls
• Break out of your peer group using nine proven techniques; engage the support of your friends to establish yourself in the leadership role
• Downloads: Building Competence Worksheet, Initial Team Meeting Guide, Teammate Interview Guide, Quick Win Planning Guide,

3.  Communicate Effectively

• Get connected with the right network of people to strengthen your leadership position
• Employ passive and active approaches to open up communication within your team, lift the mood of meetings and encourage positive action in others
• Improve your working relationship with your boss using nine effective approaches that will quickly mark you as one of the more mature leaders on the team
• Downloads:  Networking Checklist, Working With the Boss

4.   Set Direction

• Understand the five qualities of a good vision statement, use two simple techniques to craft your own, and put it to work for your team
• Put the power of strong goal setting skills to work for you using five criteria that will help you and your team achieve results
• Build a simple, effective plan to achieve your goals using a simple technique that produces specific, actionable tasks that your teammates can execute
• Delegate with clarity and efficiency so that you keep your leadership focus clear, the work gets done, and your team gets stronger
• Downloads:  Establishing the Vision Guide, Goals Guide, Delegation Tracker

5.  Build the Team

• Accurately assess anyone's motivational state based on five criteria, then use 18 action ideas to help them accomplish more and strengthen loyalty to the team
• Understand the pitfalls of a coercive leadership style and how you can magnify your results with a positive approach
• Add eight reward tools to your leadership kit that can have a greater impact than money
• Recognize the four stages of team development and match your leadership style for the best effect; lead in a way that accelerates your team through the stages
• Downloads:  Hierarchy of Needs Guide, Rewarding Without Cash Guide, Team Development Guide