Aluno: Patrick Fiskaa Hendricks
Resumo
The transition from Subject Matter Expert (SME) to first-time leader is a critical yet underexplored career milestone with significant implications for individual growth and organisational effectiveness. Understanding this transition is essential, as SMEs often face unique challenges when moving into leadership roles, including balancing technical expertise with relational and strategic skills. This research addresses this gap by investigating the learning challenges and strategies experienced by first-time leaders in Norwegian organisations.
Employing a grounded theory methodology, this research utilised a qualitative, inductive approach to explore the lived experiences of seven first-time leaders across diverse industries. Semi-structured interviews formed the core of data collection and were analysed through thematic analysis to derive key patterns and themes.
The findings reveal three major themes: (1) building relationships and trust, (2) transitioning into leadership, and (3) learning challenges. Candidates emphasised the importance of credibility, active listening, and effective delegation to establish trust and foster collaboration, particularly when managing experienced teams. Experiential learning—through trial and error, reflective practices, and peer feedback—emerged as a primary mechanism for skill development in the absence of structured mentorship and onboarding programs.
This research provides actionable insights for organisations seeking to better support first-time leaders by designing tailored development frameworks. It contributes to the academic discourse on leadership transitions by highlighting the complex interplay of technical expertise, interpersonal dynamics, and psychological resilience. Ultimately, the study underscores the transformative potential of transitioning from SME to leadership, offering pathways for enhanced individual and organizational outcomes.
Trabalho final de Mestrado