The Next Level

About the Author

Scott Eblin, a former Fortune 500 human resources executive, is an executive coach, speaker, and author. He is president of The Eblin Group, whose clients include AOL, Capital One, Northrop Grumman, and The World Bank. Eblin is a graduate of Davidson College, Harvard University, and Georgetown University's leadership coaching certificate program, where he is also on the faculty.

Main Idea

The central thesis of The Next Level is that transitioning from a functional leader to an executive role requires significant personal and professional transformation. Eblin emphasizes that the skills and behaviors that contribute to success at lower levels are not sufficient at the executive level. Instead, new executives must adopt new ways of thinking and acting, letting go of old habits and embracing new ones. Eblin outlines nine key behaviors and beliefs essential for this transition, providing a framework to help new executives succeed in their roles.

Table of Contents

1. Pick Up Confidence in Your Presence
2. Pick Up Regular Renewal of Your Energy and Perspective
3. Pick Up Custom-Fit Communications
4. Pick Up Team Reliance
5. Pick Up Defining What to Do
6. Pick Up Accountability for Many Results
7. Pick Up Looking Left and Right as You Lead
8. Pick Up an Outside-In View of the Entire Organization
9. Pick Up a Big-Footprint View of Your Role

Pick Up Confidence in Your Presence

Eblin starts with a fundamental truth: insecure people make poor leaders. As a new executive, it’s crucial to manage insecurity and build a grounded sense of confidence. This confidence should be demonstrated regularly to inspire trust and assurance in your peers, boss, and team.

Key Actions:

• Identify and adopt key tactical behaviors that build confidence.
• Focus on developing strong relationships across the organization.
• Let go of deep engagement in day-to-day functional tasks.

Silence your inner critic by preparing thoroughly for meetings and focusing on your point of view, desired outcomes, and key messages.

"To be an effective executive, you need to know that what drove your progress at lower levels will not necessarily sustain your future success." - Scott Eblin

Pick Up Regular Renewal of Your Energy and Perspective

Executives face constant new challenges, which can lead to burnout if not managed properly. Eblin emphasizes the importance of regularly renewing your energy and perspective to maintain peak performance.

Strategies:

• Take regular breaks to recharge.
• Establish routines for mental, physical, spiritual, and relational renewal.
• Create a Life GPS (Goals Planning System) to stay aligned with your best self.

Harvard professor Ron Heifetz suggests that leaders periodically need to get off the "dance floor" and onto the "balcony" to gain perspective.

"Managing the demands of executive life requires picking up regular renewal of your energy and perspective, and letting go of running flat out until you crash." - Scott Eblin

Pick Up Custom-Fit Communications

Effective executives communicate strategically. They tailor their messages to the audience and desired outcomes, ensuring clarity and impact. Eblin provides frameworks for communicating with different stakeholders within the organization.

Communication Tips:

• Be clear about your desired outcome and audience.
• Use the "What? So What? Now What?" framework for communicating with your boss.
• Build a habit of asking open-ended questions to learn what is important to senior executives.

"Executives don't spend much of their time producing anything tangible. They produce and deal in ideas." - Scott Eblin

Pick Up Team Reliance

Transitioning to an executive role requires letting go of the need to do all the functional work yourself. Instead, focus on building and leading a strong team that can execute effectively.

Building an Effective Team:

• Get the right people in the right roles.
• Encourage team problem-solving and diverse views.
• Promote honest feedback and build trust.

"One of the biggest derailers is trying to do all the functional work yourself once you become an executive." - Scott Eblin

Pick Up Defining What to Do

As an executive, your focus should shift from telling your team how to do the work to defining what work needs to be done. This strategic approach allows for greater clarity and effectiveness.

Key Questions for Setting Expectations:

• What will success look like?
• What metrics will measure success?
• What are the deadlines?

Developing future leaders involves providing clear direction and empowering them to execute.

"By picking up defining what to do and letting go of telling how to do it, you are taking an important step in developing future leaders of your organization." - Scott Eblin