Avoid this Mistake as a New Leader Coming

One of the biggest mistakes I made as a new CS leader?

Trying to change everything at once.

I walked into the role with a list a mile long:

Rebuild onboarding

Deploy new technology

Refresh success plans

Introduce new cadences

Update compensation models

And I got to work.

Fast.

I thought momentum would speak for itself.

That more change meant more value.

But here’s what actually happened:

The team was overwhelmed.

The customers were confused.

And I couldn’t tell what was actually driving results, because I changed too many things, too fast.

What I’ve learned since then?

👉 Change isn’t the goal. Clarity is.

👉 Real transformation happens when you test one lever at a time.

👉 Impact is about precision, not volume.

Now, when I step into a new role or tackle a new initiative, I ask myself:

▶️ What’s the highest leverage change I can make right now?

▶️ How will I measure its success?

▶️ What do I need to protect from disruption while this is in motion?

As a leader, your job isn’t to prove how much you can do.

It’s to understand what actually makes a difference and do that with intention.

Slow down. Get focused.

That’s how you build trust, deliver results, and lead with impact.