I had an early start this morning to attend my regular business breakfast meeting. I was slightly startled by two mallards who decided to land on the other carriageway of the A53.
I had been quietly rehearsing what I might say during the 60 seconds round of my meeting and it occurred to me that Mr and Mrs Duckie might have been rather startled to land on the hard asphalt with a car hurtling towards them than the nice soft luscious green grass or still calm blue pond that they are more used to.
I rather imagine this feeling to be like the one I experienced during one of my promotions when I worked in the corporate world. One day you know exactly what you’re doing, and the next, wham! a whole new set of responsibilities and other people’s high expectations of you. Let face it – they appointed you so you were the best person for the job. Yet you still have doubt.
Bird – Duck – Mallard (Photo credit: blmiers2)
All too frequently employer support can end there, and sometimes confidence issues can creep in however with a bit of support we can pick ourselves up and settle into the new role.
Here is my top tip to help if you find yourself like Mr & Mrs Duckie:
Remember to seek out someone who can help. Even at its worst you may feel like you really can’t fulfill the needs of the role, its usually just your inner voice talking to you. Enlist the help of someone and use them as a mentor and confidant. It could be anyone, a more experienced colleague, your line manager, someone you know elsewhere in the organisation who has been through a similar promotion, someone from outside the organisation, or employ a coach.
Struggling with the changes that a new role requires is not a weakness – it is simply a natural reaction and one that most employers would expect.
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