16 Feb Overcoming First Timer Syndrome- Know Your Place
Have you heard people saying ‘Know your place’? People use it negatively. When people think you are where you don’t belong or deserve, they tell you to know your place. When it comes to a first-timer leadership position, the skepticism could come from your own self or others.
Consciously or unconsciously, you may think that you don’t belong or deserve this new position. You doubt yourself at many levels. If In case you think you know your place and you earn it, you may face skepticism from others such as your team members and other stakeholders. Those who competed for that the new position may think that you don’t deserve it. They may assume that they were the right fit for the place. Your team members, especially if you were peers and now you are promoted to lead them, some of your team members may not accept you right away, consciously or unconsciously.
The best way to shut down your inner critics and other skeptics is to actually ‘Know Your Place’ very well. Knowledge takes away any mystery. It sets you free, and in turn, increases your confidence. The question is what kind of knowledge you do need right away to know and then own the place from the get going.
The most important knowledge you need to have include:
- Yourself
- The organization
- Your boss
- The Team
- Key stakeholders
- You
The most important first knowledge is about you. Philosophers had been emphasizing the importance of conquering self than trying to conquer the rest of the world. They realized that the most subtle and dangerous foe that stands in the way the most and stop you from succeeding than what is in the outside. There is a powerful African’s saying, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm.” Ask these questions:
- From where did I come from?
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- What should I be doing now?
- Where am I heading?
The answers to these questions increase your awareness and your ability to manage and control yourself. Leadership begins with self. The more you lead yourself successfully, the more you could succeed leading others. On the other hand, if you cannot manage yourself, your emotions, time, and resources, chances are high that you may not able to lead others and their resources effectively. The more you know about yourself and get answers to the above questions, the more you develop confidence, and as a result, feel and look in charge of your new leadership place.
In Episode 7, I talked about the importance of Knowing Your Place by knowing more and in-depth about yourself, the organization, your boss, your team members, and other key stakeholders. I’m not talking about superficial acquaintances. You need to go deeper than you did when you prepared for the interview. This journey positions you to overcome the first-timer syndrome. Watch the episode and let me know if you may have any questions. If you may have any topic you want me to cover or questions you would like me to answer in the upcoming episodes, let me know.
If you’re also interested to go deeper with me, make sure to sign up for the 7-days challenge I’m planning to issue soon. During those 7-days, I will send you video clips and other helpful resources to overcome the first-timer syndrome you may already experience now or in the future. In order to get these resources for free, sign up for the email list by going to www.assegid.com
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