New leaders often feel the pressure to have all the answers. Take my client Felix, a newly promoted manager. Up until his recent promotion, he had always served as a subject matter expert who was responsible for one or two projects. His reliability and skill earned him a leadership role where he was overseeing many projects and people all at once.
New Managers: You Don’t Need to Know It All
Six phrases to use when you don’t have the answers.
December 24, 2024
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Summary.
Becoming a manager doesn’t mean that you have to have all the answers. And you shouldn’t feel pressured to have them, either. When a team member comes to you with a question, instead of providing immediate solutions, you can facilitate the problem-solving process, which can help your team develop judgment and ownership. It’s okay to take time to think before responding, as thoughtful deliberation is a sign of strong leadership. It’s also okay to acknowledge when you don’t know something and seek help from others. This approach shows humility and encourages your team to ask for help when needed. Expecting yourself to know everything is unrealistic and leads to burnout. Giving yourself permission to not know everything opens opportunities for trust-building and learning within your team, fostering growth and yielding thoughtful solutions.