How to Defeat “Promotion Anxiety” and Become a Great Leader
You can get the job, but can you do the job?
The first time they promoted me to management was a bit of a shock. I suddenly felt alone. I was working for the same company and in the same department, but everything was different. I was suddenly in charge of the department and my fellow workers became my responsibility.
Have you ever reached a goal and then felt unsure of yourself? Maybe you’ve worked for a company for many years and you’re finally recognized for your contribution.
“Promotion Anxiety” is the feeling you get when you finally get the promotion you’ve been waiting for, and it scares you to death. The change to a new position and responsibility can be daunting. What can you do?
Here are 5 ways you can defeat Promotion Anxiety and thrive in your new position of leadership.
Relationships change
“Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.” — Angela Ahrendts
You need to build new relationships with your co-workers. Your old relationships have changed.
You’ve worked with the same people long enough, and now you’re promoted in your department. You’ve probably developed friendships with your co-workers. If you’re promoted and become their boss, those relationships will change. That can be a challenge for both yourself and your co-workers.
You used to work side-by-side with these people and now you need to train them, evaluate their performance, and direct them to accomplish company goals.
How will your co-workers respond when you counsel them to improve their productivity? Will you lose friendships because they now see you as “lording” your new powers over them? These fears can cause “promotion anxiety”.
The solution is to create new relationships built on trust and good communication. Don’t be a buddy to your employees. Your new relationship will require respect and recognition of your new roles.
Communicate honestly
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place” — George Bernard Shaw
The biggest challenge I had after my promotion was communication. I never thought that would be a problem. I was an excellent communicator and thought I wouldn’t have any problem communicating with my ‘friends’ as their manager. But I discovered I wasn’t listening.
Effective communication involves both active listening and clearly expressing realities. In business, there are unavoidable facts that you must communicate to your team. Maybe there are budget cut-backs or other matters that are hard to administer.
If you communicate honestly and with compassion, your people will appreciate it.
Team spirit
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision” — Andrew Carnegie
As a leader in your organization, you become the coach. In sports, the team works together to win the game. The talent of one person cannot succeed in team sports. The coach coordinates and directs the team.
An orchestra conductor’s job is similar. He’s the glue that holds their parts together. Each musician has a part to play, but they all create beautiful music together. It’s the same in business, or should be.
When you lead your people as a coach or an orchestra conductor, you will not carry the burden alone. You will be part of a team and enjoy the accomplishment together.
Delegate wisely
“The art of delegation is one of the key skills any entrepreneur must master” — Richard Branson
One of the more difficult transitions for newly promoted leaders to make is the change from doing to leading. When you were working among your peers, you had your work and you did it. Now that you’re a leader, your job is to accomplish work through other people. What does that involve?
- Determine what to delegate
- Choose the right person to delegate to
- Communicate your desired results
- Allocate a measure of authority as needed
- Follow up to see their progress
When you delegate wisely, you’ll reduce anxiety and enjoy your new position more. You’ll encourage the ones you delegate to by trusting them, and you’ll be training them for greater responsibility.
You are qualified
You would not receive a promotion unless someone thinks you are qualified. Why do they think that? Because of your track record. You’ve proven that you can do the job and management wants you in a position to direct others in accomplishing company goals.
Stop and meditate on that. Think about your accomplishments and the years of experience that have brought you to this day. You have something to contribute. Don’t fall prey to “imposter syndrome”. Your experience qualifies you for the job. That’s why you got the promotion.
If you’re still unsure of your qualifications, follow the advice of an article in Financial News London, where it says:
“create a page for each of the jobs you’ve had in the past five years. In the first column, list all of the things you enjoyed about each one. In the second, list the projects or roles you worked on or performed. In the third, list the lessons you learned from these projects or roles. In the fourth, list the skills you developed from these lessons.”
By listing your experience and what you’ve learned, you’ll see what others see in you and why they promoted you to management.
Success is a journey
It can a challenge when you’re first promoted to management or any position of leadership. But you’re not alone. You’re there to accomplish the goals of your company through the combined efforts of many people.
You’re the coach, the conductor, and the leader of a team. Be the leader that cares and communicates the company vision. You will succeed in the journey only by staying close to your team and motivating them toward the same goals.
Remember the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower:
“Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”
A new promotion is a time of great excitement. Sometimes there are feelings of anxiety. But did you know, excitement and anxiety feel the same physically? Focus on the excitement and enjoy your journey.
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