How to stay confident while taking on a new Leadership role into the unknown?

Starting a new position is never easy. It's a leap into the unknown, one that can feel like stepping off a cliff into uncertain waters:

- A new environment

- A new organizational structure

- New processes

- A different corporate culture

- A new team

- A new boss

- New colleagues

...and perhaps even a new role with:

- Expanded responsibilities

- A broader scope of influence

It's no wonder there's a cocktail of excitement and anxiety when starting this new journey. The questions keep you awake at night:

- What leadership style should I adopt?

- What will my new team think of me?

- How can I make a strong first impression?

- What if I make a critical mistake in my first few weeks?

When stepping into a senior position, there's often an unspoken expectation that you should know everything, master every aspect from day one. After all, isn't that what teams expect? Someone who has all the answers, who's in complete control, a leader who never falters.

The pressure is immense – with a substantial salary comes substantial scrutiny. Every decision, every hesitation, every word will be analyzed and judged.

In this pressure cooker environment, it's no surprise that many of my clients experience an overwhelming fear of appearing foolish or incompetent during their transition. This fear becomes a poison that seeps into their thoughts, eroding their self-confidence – a weakness they feel they must hide at all costs, creating a vicious cycle of anxiety and self-doubt.

• How can one escape this trap?
• How can one approach their new role with genuine confidence?
• How can one regain focus and clarity?

All these fears stem from one deeply ingrained belief: "As a leader, I must know everything."

Even if we consciously disagree with this outdated vision of leadership and management, something deep within still pushes us to demonstrate our knowledge, to prove we're in control, to justify our position.

To break free from this unconscious mechanism, we must challenge our beliefs. I like to ask two powerful questions:

- What are the benefits of not knowing everything as a leader?

- What are the drawbacks of being all-knowing?

Answering these questions helps rebalance our perspective:

- Yes, there are advantages to leveraging our experience, but it's not everything... Coming across as arrogant, closed-minded, or overly directive is a common pitfall for new leaders. This approach can quickly alienate your team, creating a negative first impression that's incredibly difficult to overcome.

- There are surprising advantages to not knowing everything: it places the newly appointed leader in a position of genuine curiosity and discovery, which can be refreshing for both the leader and their teams. They'll naturally lean on their teams and peers to understand their environment, thereby validating others' experience and expertise. What better way to build trust!

Another approach is to give voice to your fears. If they could speak, what would they say? Behind every fear lies a need that might be worth sharing with your team instead of suppressing it.

- "I'm afraid I won't gain the team's buy-in" (need = "building connection")

=> Message to team: "Building trust between us is my top priority"

- "I'm afraid of being judged for taking time to learn" (need = "time to process")

=> Message to team: "I'm in learning mode, and I believe in taking time to understand deeply. This allows me to explore different perspectives before making important decisions."

Conclusion:

The transition into a new leadership role doesn't have to be a solitary burden of pretending to know everything. By acknowledging our vulnerabilities and reframing them as opportunities for growth and connection, we can transform what feels like weakness into our greatest strength.

Remember: great leaders aren't defined by having all the answers, but by their ability to ask the right questions and create an environment where everyone can contribute their best. Your period of adjustment isn't a liability – it's your chance to set the foundation for authentic, effective leadership that will serve you and your team well into the future.