U become me
As a leader, the most precious gift you can give your team is the belief that they too can become you. Ankur Warikoo says.
What ? Where can I hide the insecurity which comes with that thought? OK, you go past the insecurity somehow, what would I do once the team member takes my role… How would it be to see a team member as an equal or a peer? Wouldnt I lose that demand over the person? Then can she really be me, ain't I special with some distinct skills, which she does not have yet?
Haven't we all gone through this all and more which is more intimate and wouldn't be appropriate as of now to present here? Insecurity used to stem from an unwillingness to open up and learn what is needed in the roles ahead or more in the role in which I was in. I started my career as a software coder for mobile phones or network devices. Nothing mattered then which was related to leadership. As your career progressed, with no direction but with the set norms of normal corporate structure you are supposed to take up leadership roles. Used to shy away from it because never understood what it meant to be one and my biggest apprehension was, as of now I am unable to finish what I am doing and then how would I schedule and monitor someone's work. Genuine concern, when the concept of delegation and vision to see the big picture is lacking. So used to deny such positions which weren't addressed with coaching on clearing the concepts of leadership, but were labeled as incapability or inefficiency.
Had to learn the hard way being part of startup to be part of a team and head one too, which was an opportunity as well as there are no set norms of progressing in a career ladder when you are in smaller teams of startups. You tend to be all of the team and no frills of corporate hierarchy as well.
Another important question that got answered is “What would you do when they move up?”. You either give way to the one who is climbing the ladder and showing capability to handle that task better or you always would have a little different responsibility which you had been gearing up for, so go at it.
All other apprehensions could melt away when you are a team where respect was the foremost and games weren't the priority.
I am grateful to have worked with leaders who were ready to move on and give space too. So learnings from them were huge.
