When I work with mid-career professionals, some of them tell me they want to become a team leader or a people manager because they think that’s the next logical step for them. They think that it’s the only path available to them if they want to progress in their career, in terms of position or salary.
But when I probe further, some of them don’t really seem totally convinced that they wantit.
So how can you tell that the leadership path is right for you?
Just as with other career decisions we make, there are several factors to consider. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself.
How do you feel about working with people?
In many of the personality assessments I facilitate (ex. DISC, Birkman) one key area that is assessed is whether you are task-focused or relationship-focused. While there aren’t any right or wrong answers here, and no “perfect” profile, having a certain inclination to relationship-building will help you succeed as a leader.
Leadership involves a lot of people interaction, while management is focused more on tasks. To be successful as a people leader or a manger, you need to have both. The good news? Both can be learned.
In John Maxwell’s Levels of Leadership, the second level is Permission Leadershipwhich focuses on relationships. This is the level of leadership where people follow you because they want to, not because they have to. It’s all about building influence through relationships built on trust and mutual respect.
How do you feel about being in charge?
You’re probably thinking, “Being in charge is easy. You just need to tell people what to do.”
Leadership is not about telling people what to do. Being in charge means you are accountable for the team’s goals, results, and yes, even their mistakes and failures. Are you ready for that?
Are you ready to raise your hand and say, “That’s on me. My team did that,” ?
Being in charge also means you have oversight of what’s going on within the team, and you are brave and bold enough to make decisions… even the ones that are unpopular.
How do you feel about giving up control?
What, Kurly?! I thought you said I was in charge. Why are you now talking about giving up control?
The command-and-controlstyle of leadership is a thing of the past. While (unfortunately), some leaders still do it, it’s not the leadership style that will make you succeed and thrive in this digital, multi-generation, modern and woke era of work.
Unlike being an individual contributor, when you’re a leader, you don’t have direct control over your results. You’re no longer the doer of the task. You take on the role of a facilitator, guide, mentor or coach.
Your team needs to be empowered.
Empowerment is not about delegating tasks. It’s about equipping and enabling your team with the skills, tools and resources to do the job. It’s about allowing them to learn, grow and make mistakes along the way, while you guide and support them.
Give the leadership path a shot.
You can take all the assessments we can and spend hours reflecting on whether you should take the leadership path, but nothing beats experiencing it… IRL (In real life).
I shared before that when I was still working in corporate, I wanted to quit and become a pastry chef. How hard could it be right? I watched the Food Network all the time and I was pretty sure I could make it work. I surveyed schools, took short courses and started my small business. But when I worked through the wee hours of the morning after a long day at work just to complete a customer’s order, I knew then that that type of physical labor wasn’t for me.
So try it out first before saying that being a leader is not for you. Take on small volunteer leadership assignments such as organizing an event, planning for a party, or mentoring a small group of newbies. When you’ve got a taste of it, and reflected on the three questions above, then you’ll be in a better position to answer, “Is the leadership path right for you?”
Need coaching on your leadership career? Submit your inquiry here.
Looking for leadership programs for your managers? Let’s talk.
No Special tools needed. You can start today, and do it consistently to make a difference. Coach Kurly de Guzman is a Career and Leadership Coach and one of a LinkedIn’s Top Voice based in the Philippines. She continuously seeks ways to help coaches, leaders and teams thrive through her newsletter, leadership and career development workshops as well as group and 1:1 coaching session for clients.
To work with Kurly, send an email to hello@kurlydeguzman.com or book an exploratory call to discuss your organization’s needs here
