Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Promotion Panic

Written by: Kim Freedman

Article Overview: It happens every day in the corporate world, good individual performers are promoted before they are ready to take on a leadership role. And, if these new team leaders, supervisors, and managers receive any leadership development at all, it is a short training class covering operational procedures and the major employment laws. In a poll, one in five business leaders ranked promotion as the most challenging life event they have had to face – more challenging than the death of a loved one, divorce, or moving. This article offers some advice for newly promoted leaders.

Free Download - Listen and Learn By Kim Freedman
Name: Email:

Promotion Panic

What is the most challenging life event you’ve had to face? When 785 business leaders were asked that question in a 2007 poll conducted by Development Dimensions International, almost one in five managers ranked getting a promotion at the top of the list. When I first read this, I was shocked until I recalled my own feelings of inadequacy when I was first promoted to management many years ago. Most companies do little to prepare or support new leaders. The same lack of support may also be felt by managers as they climb up the corporate ladder. It’s like being thrown into the deep end of the pool; you’ll either sink or swim. If you are in this position, what should you do?

First, realize that whatever you are feeling - stress, guilt, inadequacy, fear - is probably quite normal. Any type of change puts us back at the bottom of the learning curve. There are four stages of learning: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and finally, unconscious competence. Before your promotion, you didn't know what you didn't know (unconscious incompetence). Now, you are starting to see all that is involved in leading a team and realizing that you have some skill gaps (conscious incompetence). Accept the fact that developing competence in your new role will take time, energy, and effort (conscious competence). So, take a deep breath, recognize that you are in learning mode, and stop being so hard on yourself.

Second, do a little bit of positive self talk. Obviously, whoever approved your promotion must have felt that you could do the job. Why shouldn’t you feel the same way? If you need more reassurance, meet with your new manager to discuss his or her expectations. Your manager’s expectations are probably more realistic than you imagine. Also, focus on your strengths and everything you are doing right. Sure, you'll make a few mistakes. Admit them, learn from them, and move on. You've met challenges and reached goals in the past; you will do so again.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to admit that you need help. Easier said than done, right? Actually, there are many avenues to explore in getting the help and guidance you need. One possibility is finding a mentor in another department of your company or perhaps in a different company within the same industry. Another possibility is finding and taking some leadership development classes. Once you start looking, you’ll be surprised at the wealth of training options that exist both within and outside of your own company. You can also read books on leadership. Ask leaders you admire what books they recommend. And, consider working with a leadership coach. A coach can help you identify skill gaps, create action plans for closing those gaps, and hold you accountable for making progress.

Related Articles
  Panic on the Sales Force and What to Do About It
  When Sales are Down these are the 3 things You Don't Want to Do
  Easy ways to promote your website
  Do You Chase When Someone Withdraws?
  THE WAY WE SEE THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM

Home > Leadership > Kim Freedman > Promotion Panic
Article Tags: business leaders, conscious competence, corporate ladder, deep breath, development dimensions, dimensions international, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, leading a team, learning curve, little bit, nbsp, new leaders, positive self talk, reassurance, skill gaps, stress, time energy, unconscious competence, unconscious incompetence

About the Author: Kim Freedman
RSS for Kim's articles - Visit Kim's website

Kim Freedman, President of Catalyst Leadership Coaching, LLC, works with business leaders who want to stop fighting fires and start empowering and engaging their team members. She also works with career-minded women who want it all - the 'big' job and a fulfilling life outside of work. Kim's tool box includes coaching, training, assessments, and mentoring. Visit Catalyst Leadership Coaching to read Kim's blog and to sign up for her monthly newsletter - Momentum: Leading at Work and in Life. Please also visit and LIKE Kim's business fan page on Facebook.


Click here to visit Kim's website
Dashed Line

More from Kim Freedman
Bad News Doesnt Improve with Age
Its About Time The Path to Productivity
Stop Reinventing the Wheel Create Systems to Save Time and Money
5 Common Mistakes That New Leaders Make
Emotional Intelligence The Hard Truth About Soft Skills


Related Forum Posts
Different Hats Different Hats - CEO Sales & Marketing & Leadership Development Company Strategic Vision 10 Alliances & Growth Strategies 10 Hiring & Managing People 8 Mentoring 8-9 Strategic Planning for Clients 10 Execution of Marketing Campaigns 9-10 (i have great people who do the nitty gritty) Financial Management 9 Bookkeeping 3 (outsourced as I really hate the fine details like GST0 Administrative Follow Up 6-7 (again have great staff) Writing & Publishing 9 (getting better all the time!) Speaking 10 (so I have been told) Self Promotion 9-10 Web development & Promotion 6-7 (learning more and have brought on players who are 10+) Babysitting Employees (1 - wont do it, that's why I work so hard to hire and motivate the people I have) Great topic Kevin!! Jude
Lie about your fears Lie about your fears - While I don't think it's ever ok to lie to a business partner or investor, I think EVERYONE is guilty at one time or another of primarily focusing on their success and business' strengths, while leveraging their weaknesses (e.g. If you have a small forum membership base, you might sell the fact that a smaller membership translates into better and more intimate discussions. In large online communities, many opinions can be lost in the masses). And whether you're working with a business partner or with other students on a school project, it never does the "partnership/team" any good if you show signs of fear. So I think it's ok to put up a brave face and maintain your composure at all times (even if you're feeling afraid and unsure about what you're doing) just to progress forward. Panic can lead to inaction and business failure, so I don't see the benefit of being honest about your insecurities. In fact, I believe the ship will sink even faster if both business partners are telling one another how scared they are of running their business. Am I wrong?
Re: How can I promote my site? Re: How can I promote my site? - There are various useful techniques for promoting a website. In SEO the techniques could be "white hat" and "black hat" techniques. White hat techniques includes following techniques to promote website as per the search engine rules. - Search Engine Friendly Tags - Website submission to Search Engines - Website Submission to Social Sites (Like twitter, Facebook) - Articles Promotion & Press Release Promotion - Quality Directories promotion - Contribution to Blogs, Forums Black hat techniques can reduce website strength in the search engine and can treat site as spam that could be following. - Keywords Stuffing. - Hidden Links - Maximum Links of unknown sites.
Re: How Not To Start A New Business Re: How Not To Start A New Business - Well, these guys these guys will not succeed at all. they need to have a way of doing things. First thing first, which market segment are they targeting? Or are they in the same segment the previous magazine was. They also need to understand the trends, currently people read online magazines so they need a website. After that they need to develop the marketing mix, which will guide them in their marketing activities. This marketing mix will be made of 4 Ps, which are Product, Place,Price and Promotion. I will assume the magazine is the product, the first P, The Price is what is the role the price will play in the market, do they want premium price, or do they want to skim the market. The other P, they need to have, is the Place, this will help in having a strategy on where to place their magazines, this includes the websites, malls, newspaper stands etc. The final P they need to develop is the Promotion, this is the advertising , channels, websites, forums, blogs, name it. Once they have done that, they can sit down and wait for money to come but not without superior customer service, otherwise without all this, they are wasting their time and money.
Re: Your Gmail Account can be hacked! Re: Your Gmail Account can be hacked! - Very informative post , thats why i don't like to use free services for My own business , but still i'm using gmail for some Product Promotion and talking with Strangers And after reading your post i'm going to change my gmail setting right now , Thanks again for sharing


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Sales Flubs

Business Coach Explains To You How To Add Value

Are You An Accidental Consultant?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.