Loud Thinking

Taking Over from an Incompetent Team Leader

Becoming the leader of an existing team can be challenging, but taking over from an incompetent leader is especially difficult. Even if you find your new team in disarray, you’ll get better results from your team members if you invest the time to appreciate and respond to their needs and concerns before making changes. By understanding what they have experienced, you’ll better understand the issues that must be addressed to move forward—and your curiosity will show your interest in your people’s well-being, another value that may have been lacking in the previous leader.

Adapted from “Taking Over from an Incompetent Team Leader” by Roger Schwarz.