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Trying out something new can be exciting, but it may also push you out of your comfort zone. It is hard because you are learning all kinds of new things and it can make you feel insecure. Everyone goes through this feeling, but it passes as you learn more and get more comfortable.
When you are a leader, this insecure feeling is magnified. There are expectations from your team, peers and management that you have answers and know what you are doing. This is especially true for leaders at more senior levels. It takes a lot of confidence to admit you don’t have all the answers. You can choose either a positive or negative approach to deal with this feeling of insecurity.
You can pretend that you know more than you do and get defensive if someone asks you something that you don’t know. This behavior can create a negative perception about you. You push back on things or just immediately shut down conversations because they make you uncomfortable. It doesn’t help you learn anything and it will make you seem unapproachable. This will also impact your ability to lead your team effectively, deliver on your goals and build relationships.
The other choice is to be patient with yourself and recognize that you are still in a big learning curve right now. Go into listen mode and sit in on meetings to absorb what is going on, how things work and who plays what role. If you are asked a question that you don’t know, be upfront about it and say that it is something that is new to you. Ask them to explain it to you and help you learn about it. People will respect your honesty and that you are willing to say it. It helps you to build a relationship with that person and you are showing that you can be a vulnerable leader. It doesn’t take away from what you do know and what your capabilities are in other areas.
This is really about showing confidence even if you don’t feel it. Know that you have been these things in the past and successfully figured things out. It will happen this time too. Learn as much as you can and build relationships that you can leverage to help that insecure feeling pass much more quickly. Which choice will you make the next time you are in an uncomfortable situation?
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