Being promoted to a manager position is exciting for any aspiring leader, but before you pop the champagne, you might want to take a moment and prepare yourself for the reality of the job.
It’s normal for new managers to feel pressure when stepping into a role with higher expectations. Taking on a management position can be tough, especially when your former peers have to report to you. Leading people isn’t easy, and when your team members come to you with problems that you don’t know the answers to, it can leave you scrambling or feeling unqualified.
Insecurities can creep in and suddenly you’re wondering how you got the job in the first place. During those times, you must remember one important thing:
You were given the job for a reason.
Even when your confidence wavers, you have to step up and fill that role. As a new manager, how can you do that successfully?
Here are three steps to help you overcome your leadership insecurities:
- Respect the people you work with. Show people that you value and care about them, and they will gladly follow you. Respect and humility go a long way and if you have a good rapport with your team, they will stand by you when times are tough.
- Embrace the mantle of leadership. When you step up into leadership, workplace dynamics change. While giving and earning respect is great, you might encounter negative attitudes from former peers that you now lead. Don’t focus on their attitudes. Instead, remember that you are the leader, and it’s your job to lead.
- Have the confidence to lead. You wouldn’t have been given the role if no one thought you could do it. Keep showing that winning confidence that landed you the job in the first place. And if your confidence is wavering, ask someone you trust for advice.
Follow these steps and your confidence will grow. Remember, with time and experience, those initial doubts and insecurities will fade.
If you’re passionate about becoming the best leader that you can be, take this quick, 20-question survey and help you discover how effective you are at giving recognition to others.
