The Book
How to Transition Into Leadership
...and Why That Changes Everything
The resource you should have received with your first promotion.
New managers often struggle. They were promoted because they were great at getting things done. Now success is measured by what their team achieves, not by their own output. The shift from "me" to "we" is the most significant leap any leader will make. This book is about making that leap well.
I wrote this in short, honest chapters for busy leaders. It is what I wish someone had handed me when I first sat down in a new office with a new title and thought, "Now what?" More than 45 years later, I am still learning. But these lessons have been tested, and they work.
Paperback & Kindle on Amazon. Audiobook delivered instantly via Gumroad.
Published by Aloha Publishing
ISBN: 9798993761008
Also available: affirmations & audio bundle
Inside the Book
What You'll Learn
The Shift From "Me" to "We"
The transition from doer to leader is hard. It asks us to trade the satisfaction of personal achievement for the slower, deeper joy of developing others. This chapter is about making that shift without losing yourself.
Influence Over Authority
Influence is far more powerful than authority. The greatest leaders rarely need to use their titles. Confidence earns respect. Humility earns trust. This chapter shows you how to build both.
The Conversations That Matter
People may forget what you said. They may forget what you did. They will not forget how you made them feel. The hardest conversations are often the most important ones. This chapter is about having them with honesty and heart.
Leading With Your Real Voice
Arrogance repels. Humility inspires. You know you are a leader when others' success becomes your first concern. Teams tend to reflect the light, or the shadow, of their leaders. This chapter is about choosing light.
Becoming Your Team's First Assistant
The most effective teams are built by leaders who serve as their people's first assistants. They ask, "What do you need from me to succeed?" And then they listen for the real answer. This chapter is about learning to ask that question and mean it.
The Journey That Never Ends
More than 45 years in, and I am still learning. The best leaders are not those who have arrived. They are the ones who keep showing up. This chapter is about building a practice of growth that lasts your entire career.
"Leadership is first a way of thinking before it is a set of skills."
Bryan Yager, How to Transition Into Leadership
Who It's For
For Leaders at Every Stage
New to the title or twenty years in, there is something here for you. Leadership growth is a never-ending journey.
New Managers
Just promoted and wondering, "Now what?" This is the resource you should have received with that promotion.
Mid-Career Leaders
Are you leading for "me" or for "we"? This book will challenge you to ask that question honestly.
Senior Executives
Looking for a resource to hand your emerging leaders? This is the book I wish someone had given me.
HR & L&D Teams
A practical companion for onboarding programs, leadership tracks, and anyone building a culture that develops people.
About the Author
Bryan Yager
I have spent more than 45 years developing leaders, as VP at Albertsons, as a Senior Facilitator with CMOE, as Emeritus at Boise State University, and as a trusted executive coach. I founded The Bryan Yager Group, LLC in 2001 and I am based in Boise, Idaho. I am still learning, and I would not have it any other way.
Read My Full StoryWant copies for your whole team?
Bulk pricing is available. I can pair a book order with a keynote or workshop for your organization. Reach out and let's talk.