Badenoch, who was elected as leader of the Conservative Party earlier this month, has a net approval rating of -5%, according to an Opinium poll for The Observer. Liz Truss was the only other former leader to have a lower approval rating than Badenoch, -9%, at the start of their party leadership role.
We asked how HR can support leaders to make a good start in their roles.
“New leaders need to get up to speed quickly with systems and processes, but most importantly with their team members,” said Jackie Handy, inclusive leadership consultant, speaking to HR magazine.
“Watch, listen and get curious before looking to make changes.”
HR should offer leaders a comprehensive onboarding process, suggested Jenni Miller, head of cultural transformation at leadership consultancy Inspiring Cultures.
She told HR magazine: “HR can facilitate success by providing a structured and supportive onboarding process that includes insights into the company culture, strategic priorities, and team dynamics.
“Clear role expectations are crucial, and opportunities for two-way feedback, through regular check-ins, will help leaders address challenges early and equip them to navigate their role effectively.”
Read more: A third of leaders have difficulty creating a senior management team
HR and leaders could also work together to shape new leaders’ direction, Paula Leech, former chief people officer of the Home Office and founder of executive coaching consultancy Vantage Points, told HR magazine.
“HR leaders are the supporters and enablers of every new leader,” she said.
“Three valuable contributions at the start of a leader’s position can be: seek to understand the direction a leader is aiming to cultivate so they know that you are a collaborator and partner in their mission.
“Provide data, information and insight to help them understand the landscape of the organisation, including history and dynamics.
“Offer suggestions to help them accelerate their connections and networks, and make early progress.”
Sunak had an approval rating of -22% at the end of his leadership, The Guardian reported. Badenoch now faces a landscape where a fifth (20%) of voters approve of her, while 25% disapprove.
Read more: Senior leaders criticised over lack of empathy
Leaders should seek to build trust in their team from the start, added Dominic Ashley-Timms, CEO of performance improvement consultancy Notion.
Speaking to HR magazine, he said: “Building trust with any new team requires a delicate balance between assertion/advocacy and humility/enquiry, erring much more towards the latter in the early stages of leadership.
“However, learning to ask questions so as not to be perceived as critical or judgemental is also a skill that many of us have yet to be taught.”
HR should ensure that leaders are equipped with communication skills at the start of their leadership, he continued.
“HR needs to redefine what it is to be a line manager and equip newly appointed leaders with the modern engagement and communication skills they need to manage a workforce with higher expectations and the ability to walk,” Ashley-Timms said.
“The advanced communication skill of purposeful inquiry, whereby questions are asked expressly to stimulate the thinking of others, is a critical leadership skill for helping team members draw from what they know and remain accountable for seeing through the ideas and actions they generate.”
