I can still re-live the shudder that went through my entire body. The discussion I was having with my boss was on the topic of succession planning. My next job role, so he thought, should be his – VP of the entire EMEA partner organisation at VMWare.
I don’t think so – I said in my head and possibly out loud. With a growing sense of terror, all I could think about was why on earth would I be any good at that role? That involves overseeing a myriad of functions that I know literally nothing about.
15 years later . . .
Time and time again, I talk to new leaders or leaders of new teams who assume that they must walk into the role on day one with all the answers.
Leadership Myths
There are some BIG leadership myths:
• Leaders are supposed to be the smartest people in the room
• Leaders are only supposed to deliver good news
• Leaders are not supposed to ask for advice
It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re early in career or a seasoned senior leader, it’s the same feeling . . . boy this is going to be lonely . . . everyone is looking to me . . . Who do I look to?
A Nasdaq 100 tech CEO learned this the hard way. As a first-time CEO, he thought he needed all the answers and hid challenges from the board, leading to a 15% earnings miss and his demotion.
In that setback, his approach changed. He began asking for help, leaning on his team, and valuing different perspectives, seeing vulnerability as a strength, not weakness. As he shifted, the business rebounded quickly, and within a year he was reinstated.
He now says:
The most successful leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers, they’re the ones who ask for the most advice.”
And it’s exactly this approach that halts the loneliness of leadership in its tracks. Asking for help leads to growth, deeper connections, encourages teamwork, and helps create better outcomes. Recognising that everyone needs support at times, especially the leader is part of being human.
Establishing Credibility
As a guest on the women@tech podcast, I was asked:
How can you establish credibility if you act in a vulnerable way?”
My reply was super simple, establishing credibility isn’t about having all the answers, it’s knowing what questions to ask to find the answers together.
Take Time: Go Slow To Go Fast
My advice now to people stepping up into a new leadership role is this:
Go slow to go fast. Get to know the people around you and think about how you can bring out the best in the room.
What don’t you know yet? Who can help you?
Lean into the mix of strengths around you and build the path forward together. That’s how you create a space where people genuinely flourish.
I didn’t take the VP role at VMware, I had put my own glass ceiling in place. Instead, I co founded Amplified Group and, now with a wonderful team 😊, we help leaders tap into what really drives high performance – a clear destination, honest conversations, shared ownership, and the simple relief of knowing you don’t have to carry the load on your own at the top.
This article was posted by Vicky Reddington, co-founder Amplified Group on LinkedIn here
