Don't Let The Popularity Contest Ruin Your Reputation

Finding the balance between leadership skills and the popularity contest can be the most challenging transition faced by newly promoted leaders. This is a career long struggle for some. It is not easy switching roles. One day you are working for the idiot and the next day you are the idiot. It doesn't take long to realize that maybe; just maybe, you didn't give your officer enough credit for all of the issues they had to deal with on a day to day basis. I know the switch to company officer was a rude awakening for me.

At times you will have to be a disciplinarian, the bearer of bad news, and an enforcer. It is part of leadership. Leadership is getting someone from where they are to where you need them to be. If you are a pushover then steering them in the right direction can be daunting. Each day you are given the gift of talking to your people. All you have to do is shut up and listen. If you listen, they will tell you where they are. If you know where they are then it is much easier to adjust their path and get them to where you need them to be. It may not be the popular path but in the end everyone will be better for having traveled it. 

Finding balance will be overwhelming in the beginning, especially if you do not set the standard early. You have to stop worrying about what is popular and what is going to please the masses and start being a champion for what is right. You will have to demonstrate personal courage by taking a stand on critical issues, no matter how unpopular. If you want to be successful you will have to give up some of the popularity. But don’t worry because anyone whose opinion matters will respect you more for it. More importantly, you shouldn't lose sleep over anyone that doesn't like you for doing the job the right way.