Being a leader: Are you truly ready to lead or just ready to be called?

The transition to leadership is a defining moment in any professional’s career. Yet, for first-time managers, stepping into this role often feels like being thrust into uncharted waters. Being a leader is not just about having a new position but also about the responsibility, challenges, and transformation that come with guiding others. The real question is: Are you prepared to lead, or are you simply ready to be called a leader?

For first-time managers, this distinction is critical. Many new leaders find themselves caught off guard by the complexities of leadership, from managing relationships to making high-stakes decisions.

During leading a project or company, you’re expected to handle multiple responsibilities and navigate complex situations. Leaders must make decisions, manage conflicts, provide guidance, and set strategic directions—tasks that require specific skills and knowledge.

When unprepared, a leader might struggle with:

• Decision-Making: In the absence of experience or clear frameworks, decision-making can feel uncertain and risky, leading to stress and indecision.

• Productivity: With numerous responsibilities, prioritizing tasks becomes difficult, potentially resulting in missed deadlines or incomplete work.

• Team Dynamics: Without an understanding of team management, leaders may find it hard to motivate, delegate, or resolve conflicts effectively, which can lead to disengagement and low morale.

• Adaptability: The inability to adjust to changing situations or unexpected challenges can make leaders feel overwhelmed, as they lack the tools to handle change effectively.

• Emotional Strain: The emotional labor of leadership—balancing empathy with authority—can be draining without preparation, leading to burnout or ineffective communication.

Proper preparation equips leaders with the tools, confidence, and strategies needed to manage these challenges, making the role more manageable and successful.

• Avoid confrontation: People can not work well if they have arguments so avoid conflicts as much as possible–it is ideal and obvious in teamwork. However, in reality, people can not always meet their expectations, and things are not happening as you planned (Laurie, 2024) Therefore, who will be the one to solve these when it occurs? That’s why a leader is. Leaders will always stay there to resolve pop-up events and human status.

• Lack time management skill: Time is equal to each other. It will depend on the way you use your time effectively rather than whether you are busy or not. If you lack time management skills, everything will end up a mess. For example, a manager consistently prioritizes minor tasks over critical deadlines, leaving key projects incomplete. Team members, uncertain about priorities, waste time on low-impact activities. As deadlines approach, the leader panics, creating a stressful, unproductive environment that undermines team morale.

• Inability of delegating tasks: You are not sure of evaluating your subordinate ability to “put one in the right position”. This style of leadership can stifle a team member’s growth and limit your own effectiveness. Remember, the goal is not for tasks to be done your way—it’s for them to be completed effectively while allowing your team to contribute uniquely.

• Being afraid of changes: You feel insecure when new things happen and hesitate to apply or accept.

• Fostering ineffective communication: Frequent misunderstandings, difficulty conveying ideas clearly, lack of engagement or feedback from others, feeling misunderstood, or experiencing frustration in conversations may be the signs for ineffective communication. If people often ask for clarification or seem disengaged, it may signal discussing challenges.

Now let’s explore this Case Study: Leadership Training vs. No Training

1. Performance and Productivity:

​Employees who received leadership training showed a 25% increase in productivity compared to untrained counterparts. Trained leaders are more equipped to manage teams effectively, resulting in higher team output and problem-solving efficiency.

2. Career Growth:

Trained leaders were 62% more likely to be promoted within three years compared to those who didn’t receive training. Leadership training equips individuals with essential skills like strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and effective communication, which are highly valued in management roles.

3. Income Growth:

Professionals who underwent formal leadership training reported earning an average of 20% higher salaries than those who relied solely on on-the-job experience. This disparity underscores the financial value of structured training in career development.

Are You Truly Ready?

The transition to leadership is as much about preparation as it is about opportunity. Recognizing the skills you need and the gaps you must address is the first step to becoming an effective manager. This is where Leadership 4.0: Becoming an Effective Manager and Leader comes in—a course designed to transform first-time managers into confident, capable leaders.

Leadership is not just a badge of honor—it’s a journey of growth and responsibility. For first-time leaders, preparation is the key to unlocking their potential and building a foundation for long-term success.

Leadership 4.0: Becoming an Effective Manager and Leader offers the guidance, frameworks, and confidence you need to step into your new role with purpose. Don’t let the challenges of leadership hold you back. Equip yourself with the skills to lead effectively and inspire your team to achieve greatness.

In conclusion, the title of leader is earned, not given.

Are you ready to prove yourself?

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References:

5 signs you should not be a leader. Laurie Maddalena. Available at: Here. ​

Author information:

Xuan Mai

Passionate Learning & Program Officer

VSHR Pro Academy