Michael@OladejiTosin15
Lesson 2: Growth sometimes comes with fear
Transitioning from one level to another sometimes comes with fear. The higher you go, the less your work depends on the technical depth you’ve built over the years, and the more it depends on new skills; leadership, business development, client management, and balancing competing interests. That shift can feel uncomfortable, especially for someone whose core strength has always been technical.
5yrs ago, when I was about to step into a management role, I was genuinely scared. I kept asking myself:
How do I engage in sales?
How will I build client relationships? (shy boy like me)
How will we meet budget? (I dont have connect oo)
How do I take responsibility for the careers of others? (I mostly give positive feedback. For example, if you tell me your answers after an exam, I’ll say you got it right, even when I know for sure na F you write.)
A lot of questions were running through my mind, even before I officially stepped into the role. Fast forward 2 years later, we significantly exceeded budget back-to-back.
The same business development and client management I was initially afraid of became areas I was thriving in.
Then came the next step: Senior Manager.
Now the stakes were higher, bigger budgets, more leadership responsibility, and greater expectations.
I still remember the first time I sat with the team to discuss our budget and what we planned to achieve. As I walked them through the numbers and targets, I could almost read their faces “Ah, here we go again.” We faced the fear again as a team.
Again and again, we exceeded the targets.
Not because of me alone, but because of the fantastic people I’ve had the privilege of working with.
One of my biggest learnings over the last decade has been the fact that People make the difference.
Even now, two years in as a Senior Manager, I’m already a bit scared of the next level.
Tbh, I fear a lot. But I don’t run away from it.
I’ve come to see fear as a natural response. It shows up when we face new challenges, not because we’re incapable, but because we’re stretching beyond what is familiar. And that’s where growth happens.
My advice to anyone stepping into a managerial role (or any new level)
If you feel scared, it’s normal. Many of us felt the same way. Embrace it. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to keep moving.
Sometimes fear is useful, it pushes you to act, to prepare, to step up. But it becomes a problem when it holds you back from doing anything at all.
Side note
I see many people who genuinely love their work and are doing exceptionally well. Some of you are clearly built for this path as the next generation of Partners and Business Unit Leaders in consulting.
Don’t let fear, external pressure, noise, or even money pull you away from where you’re meant to be. 😎
#CareerLesson