It was only a matter of time. Year after year, you beat your
numbers and earned the highest marks on evaluations. Your manager sang
your praises; your clients considered you one of their own. You
sacrificed health and happiness to prove you deserved it. Eventually
your time rolled around and they put you in charge. And now that you've
made it, only one question remains: What do I do now?
Stepping
into management can be an overwhelming transition. Forget all your past
accomplishments: You're starting from scratch and the learning curve is
steep. You'll deal with individuals from different cultures,
generations, personalities, and ambitions, some of whom are more
entrenched, experienced, and talented than you. And all those dirty jobs
you took for granted—hiring, training, coaching, appraisals,
discipline, and layoffs—are your responsibility.
Worst of all, you're no longer one of them; you're the eyes-and-ears of "The Man," if not the man himself. Now you're all alone.
And that means you have a target on your back. Sure, your reports have a
stake in your success. But they also have their agendas. Despite your
best intentions and efforts, you're bound to disappoint them at times.
No, you'll have to accept that not everyone will like you. They'll
whisper behind your back, blaming you for things you can't control.
They're always watching you, evaluating you against their own strengths,
sniping over every weak moment or error. Regardless, these same people
will make or break you.
Weaknesses Exposed
Leadership has a funny way of
exposing weaknesses. If you lacked self-awareness before, you'll quickly
recognize your limitations and misconceptions. Suddenly you're pushed
and pulled from all directions. Every interaction is magnified. And all
those frailties you've consciously hidden—your temper, tendency to
procrastinate, or inability to follow through—will eventually come front
and center as the pressure boils over.
As with any job, many of us enter leadership with high hopes. We expect
to raise the bar for everyone else (or at minimum, not undo the great
work of our predecessor). We imagine ourselves building teams and
markets, making a difference and someday crossing the stage to the
applause of our peers. But then the people, politics, and roadblocks
often wear us down. And with every tepid review you give, the guilt will
gnaw at you: Is their performance actually a reflection on me?
Too often, we press and claw to the destination, all too satisfied when
we get there. In reality, that's when the real work begins. To keep your
promotion from morphing into a death sentence, you must come in with
your eyes open and a plan.
