Nov 11, 2024
7 Min Read
What I Wish I Knew When Starting My Leadership Journey
Reflect on the valuable lessons learned over the course of my leadership journey, sharing insights on what I wish I knew earlier to lead with greater impact, confidence, and clarity.
Lessons Learned
Leadership is a journey filled with challenges, growth, and unexpected lessons. When I first started my leadership journey, I had a general sense of what it would take to lead others, but there were many insights I learned only through experience. If I could go back and share advice with my younger self, it would be about the importance of trust, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. These qualities have proven to be the cornerstones of effective leadership. Here are the key lessons I wish I knew when I first started leading others.
Leadership Is About Empowering Others, Not Just Directing
In the beginning, I thought leadership was about having all the answers and making decisions on my own. Over time, I realized that great leadership is about empowering others and creating an environment where people feel motivated and capable to contribute their best work.
I learned that delegating responsibility and giving team members the autonomy to make decisions boosts their confidence and fosters growth. The best leaders don’t simply tell others what to do—they guide, support, and trust their teams to achieve shared goals. This shift from directive leadership to empowering leadership made a huge difference in team performance and engagement.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a crucial skill for any leader. Early on, I underestimated the impact that understanding and managing my emotions, as well as empathizing with others, could have on my leadership effectiveness.
EQ helps in building strong relationships, managing conflicts, and navigating challenges with calm and clarity. As a leader, I learned that the ability to remain emotionally grounded in tough situations and show empathy toward others builds trust and respect within the team. Developing EQ over time has made me a more thoughtful and adaptable leader, and it’s something I now prioritize in my growth.
Leading Requires Vulnerability
When I first became a leader, I thought I needed to appear invulnerable and have everything figured out. But leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being authentic and showing vulnerability.
Being open about my struggles, mistakes, and areas for growth helped me connect with my team on a deeper level. It also created a culture where everyone felt safe to express their challenges and seek feedback. Leadership requires self-awareness, an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures. Embracing this vulnerability has allowed me to grow not just as a leader, but as a person.