Don’t get drunk
This one has been on my heart a lot lately. I’ve recently seen a number of promotions or people in my life who’ve received promotions. I can see a noticeable difference in those that are going reasonably well or those that aren’t going too hot for those around them. The starkest difference? Who’s inebriated by their power and who isn’t.
For those that are taking things slow, considering others, embracing humility, and being mindful - things are going pretty darn well even when things are going poorly. For those that are not and are sippin’ just a little too hard on their newly assigned cup of power - it’s not going so hot. I recognize this very tempting concoction: new title, new paycheck, eyes on you recognizing your accomplishments. I’ve sipped on it myself early on in my career and ended up waaaay too hungover. Looking back to some emails I wrote or texts I sent, the content inside makes me wanna vomit.
It’s so important to be wise about how you carry yourself. Not necessarily because you’re worried about other people’s thoughts about you, but because other people’s thoughts about you reflect on everyone’s performance. If your team feels belittled or shamed, they will share that sentiment with others and it will reflect in their work eventually. So, this is just a quick reminder that yes, your accomplishments are awesome, and yes, you’ve achieved quite a bit to get to where you are today. AND my friend, your power is no more valuable than those who didn’t get the promotion or who report to you now. Everybody has a role to play that if that role wasn’t played, would cause significant damage.
So three reminders as you settle into your new role:
What’s the golden rule? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Treat people the way you want to be treated. And this is from tip to toe - from how you say hello in the morning to when you assign a large project with high stakes. Talk to people with dignity and respect and like they are adults, not children. Pay attention to how you give direction, how you communicate things that are good, how you communicate things that aren’t so great. Speak with tact, consideration for others’ experiences, and kindness.
You’re reliant on your team. In other words, you can’t do what you do without them. You have a job because of your team. Your job is to help supervise their work - the work that if it didn’t happen - it likely wouldn’t happen or it would happen with a LOT of pain and agony because you’d have to do their job AND your job. Your new position is no more important than anyone else’s position. They’re just different roles. So, recognize their inherent value and make sure you let that reality keep you in check.
We are all human. Because of the nature of capitalism, it is really, really easy to view each other just from the lens of the work. Avoid this tendency no matter how much pressure may be on you. Remember that the people behind your product and/or your services are just that: people. We are all getting through each day as best as we can experiencing life day to day, so keep that in mind in everything you do and say.
