Why do all the other managers seem to know what to do and how to do it all the time, when I don’t? That was the question I asked myself repeatedly when I accepted my first management position in late 2015.
Honestly, I struggled with the decision to even apply for the position (not only was it my first management job, the project we were tackling was in rough shape). After I got the job, I wondered why everyone but me always had all the answers. I felt overwhelmed and inadequate, lacking in confidence.
After probably several months, I came to a critical realization. All those other managers, at all levels of the organization – they don’t always have all the answers! Often they just had more experience in handling the ambiguous situations, decision making, and leadership than I did. And sometimes I think they were just winging it.
This realization has made the job much easier for me, on two levels. First, I stopped being so hard on myself, like there was something wrong with me – it reduced my personal stress level. Second, it gave me a better perspective on the behaviors and decisions that other managers were making. Some are certainly better at management and leadership than others, for sure, but now I could see other managers as ordinary people, just like me. I became less intimidated by management.
If, like I did, you struggle with confidence as a new manager, consider that you’re not alone. You’re not the only one who feels that way. And managers are not all-knowing. There is a good chance that they may be struggling also – their job might be much harder for them than it appears. Learn from them and how they solve problems, make decisions, and lead, but remember they are just like you.