Starting as an intern, I dreamed of leading my own team one day. Shifting from a “do-er” to a leader, I learned how important it is to live by your values and know your strengths. My journey from Project Manager to Team Leader wasn’t just a career move; it was a shift in perspective and responsibility. Though I’ve chosen to put on hold my leadership journey, here are some key lessons I learned along the way which hopefully will offer guidance to aspiring leaders.
Embrace Loneliness and Imposter Syndrome
Moving from being a team member to a leader can feel isolating at first, especially when you’re used to being part of a tight-knit team. Feelings of self-doubt and not being “good enough” can creep in, so seeking support from a mentor who would understand your journey can make all the difference.
It is All in Your Head
Overthinking can hold you back from reaching your full potential. So, having honest regular “let’s clear the air” check-ins helps a lot. Never assume — simply ask. Even though the journey feels lonely, you are not alone. You would be surprised to know how many people feel same things but don’t necessarily talk about them.
Find Out What You Enjoy Doing — and Do More of it
Discovering what you are good at and enjoy doing is not just about the team growth — it’s about your growth as a leader. Leadership is not just another position to jump in and jump off. It is a choice for a lifelong journey of continuous development. By recognizing and leveraging your strengths, you eventually will need to delegate. It is uncomfortable but essential to learn to let go. Otherwise, you are hindering your own progress and holding back the growth of others.
Seeing Others Grow is the Most Rewarding Experience
While company goals are important, investing in the growth of individual team members is equally vital. Because it is people, more than physical assets, that truly drive business performance today. Developing personalized growth plans (based on a major company goal) and giving this plan a structure in an editable format is a good starting point. Incorporating this plan review routinely into one-to-one sessions and tracking progress together is essential.
Find Yourself a Way to See Results
I could no longer go into the supermarket and have a look around the shelves to see my work results (For context: before becoming a leader, for majority of my career I used to manage packaging design projects). So, transitioning from a role where you can see immediate results to a leadership position can feel like a shift in how satisfied you feel at work. As a leader, your achievements become intertwined with your team’s achievements. It becomes essential to redefine what an “achieved result” and “success” means for you.
Identify Your Flagship Topic
Determine your niche as a leader — the skill or initiative that sets you apart. Leverage it to make a meaningful impact within your team or organization. Let’s be real. You can change the job — but you always keep bringing that one skill of yours to the table. Reflect on what initiatives keep becoming yours? When you just can’t stand to just observe and have to act — and have an idea where to start? For me, it was always bringing structure, data & people together. Knowing your flagship topic will help you lead with clarity, focus and purpose.
Prioritize Self-Leadership
Leadership begins with self-awareness and self-care. Nurture your own growth and well-being because it directly impacts your ability to motivate and inspire others.
Write Things Down
Developing a habit of writing not only helps us bring structure to our thoughts but is beneficial for maintaining clarity and accountability. Starting as simple as writing down meeting notes to documenting yourself a freshly agreed new process, it might seem a tedious task at first but it will pay off — and that is a pinky promise.
Be Yourself
In our lifetime, we dedicate approximately 80,000 hours to work — that is quite a significant portion of life. Embrace your authenticity as a leader to foster connection and trust. Create a safe space for diverse perspectives to be heard.
For all those who aspire to lead, I encourage you to embrace your authentic selves, make self-leadership a priority, and recognize the power of your individual strengths and perspectives. Keep in mind, your path is uniquely yours, and every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth and transformation. And don’t you dare believing in what imposter syndrome is trying to tell you — that’s fake news.
