Going Mental

It's funny how a single word can change your state of mind.

Well... that and the expectations that come with it. I recently ascended one rung higher on the corporate ladder and with that came a new title. It's not a huge change by any means. There is not a "Highness" or "Duke of..." in my new title, just a simple word added: Senior.

It's not like a lot has really changed even. I still have the same number of people working for me (although that will grow by two soon). For all intents and purposes, I have the same job - albeit one I have been doing without the "official" title for a while. But a funny thing happened deep in the recesses of my brain. I realized with great power, comes great responsibility. (Thank you, Spider-man). Now mind you, I don't really have great power, but I do have some influence in my small sphere. I realized that as a "Senior" I have some responsibilities that are expected of me - not only by my superior, but by my peers, and even more importantly, by the ones that work for me.

There's an unwritten agreement when you manage people that you will have their back and watch out for their better good. That comes in many forms: backing their decisions to take risks; protecting them when they feel overwhelmed; being the buffer to those things that can distract. But more importantly, the one thing they expect is for you to make decisions. Yes, it's just that simple.

The reason your superiors give you a bump is that you are actually expected to take the lead and make decisions. It still amazes me that that isn't the case with everyone. The worst leader is the one that is indecisive. Either stunned into indecisiveness by lack of confidence or the fear of being wrong, that type of leadership is not really leadership at all.

Everyone can't be right all the time, but sticking your neck out is what separates the true leaders from the posers. True, the only way to have that confidence is to know that you will be supported, but there is definitely something to be said for bucking the system and not being a "yes" man. The world has enough of those already.

As I've said many times in the last few weeks... step up or step aside.