Are You Ready to Be a Leader Yet?

If you think leadership is about being liked, you’re not ready.

If you think your boss is just “being difficult,” you’re not ready.

If you’re afraid to disappoint your team, you guessed it—you’re not ready.

Leadership isn’t a vibe. Or a title. Or an “I’ve made it” badge.

It’s a responsibility. And it’s heavy.

When you’re new to leading, the biggest trap is this: you want to be liked.

Every fibre of your being craves validation.

You want to be the people’s favourite. Keep the peace. Smooth the edges.

But leadership will test that instinct.

Because it’s not about keeping everyone happy.

It never was. And it never will be.

It’s about moving the team forward.

Aligned to a bigger picture; one your team may not always see.

Here’s what they don’t prep you for:

The moment you step into leadership, you stop being “one of them.”

You become the person who says no.

Who gets judged from the sidelines, by the same people who used to be peers.

It feels isolating.

You second-guess yourself.

You wonder if you’re the problem.

You wonder if they are.

Thoughts you never had before leadership.

But they show up, uninvited, and often loud.

This discomfort? That’s the real initiation.

Here’s what helps when the pressure kicks in:

1. Express (Selectively)

You don’t have to pretend it’s all easy. But share it with the right people.

Ideally, someone outside work—who can give you an outside-in perspective, minus the baggage.

2. Ask, Don’t Assume

Seeking feedback isn’t weakness. It’s clarity.

It shows you care enough to grow.

And if your team can’t respect that? That’s on them.

3. Find Your Circle

Upgrade your circle. Get around people who’ve been here.

A mentor. A former boss you respected. Someone who’s seen this phase and made it through.

4. Back Yourself

Great leaders operate on two timelines: today, and twelve months from now.

Some decisions won’t make sense to others, at that point in time.

That’s okay. You’re playing the long game.

Leadership is lonely.

You will be misunderstood.

You will disappoint people.

And still, you’ll have to keep showing up.

Making the decisions. Carrying the weight.

You may never be everyone’s favourite.

So stop trying.

The goal isn’t to be liked.

The goal is to be trusted.