We’ve All Had a First Time
There comes a moment in every career when we stand at the edge of something we’ve never done before.
Our first management role.
Our first executive position.
Our first board appointment.
Our first CEO opportunity.
Our first time leading people who were once our peers.
Our first time walking into a room where everyone else appears more experienced, more confident, more certain.
And if we’re honest, most of us feel completely unprepared.
I have often heard this described as imposter syndrome.
We look at accomplished leaders and assume they always knew what they were doing. That they somehow arrived equipped with confidence, wisdom and certainty. But the truth is far less glamorous and far more reassuring.
Every single leader you’ve ever admired has had a first time.
I have spent decades working with leaders across every level of organisations, from emerging managers to CEOs and board directors. One of the most common things I hear is, “I’m not sure I’m ready.”
What fascinates me is that readiness itself is largely a myth.
Research has long suggested that men and women often approach opportunity differently. Men are more likely to apply for roles when they believe they meet only some of the criteria, whereas women often wait until they feel they meet almost all of them. But regardless of gender, the real question isn’t whether you meet an arbitrary percentage of requirements.
The real question is this:
Do you have the courage to grow into the role before you fully believe you’re capable of it?
Because leadership has never been about knowing everything. Leadership is about being willing to learn, adapt, listen and continue moving forward despite uncertainty.
I remember my own first leadership positions. I remember the anticipation, the fear, the self-doubt and the enormous responsibility that seemed to descend overnight. In some ways, it was overwhelming. I had no idea how much responsibility I was taking on for people, resources and the countless things that could go wrong. Perhaps if I did, I would never have taken the chance.
In hindsight, some element of naivety can also be the courage we need to step in and have a go, provided we're prepared for the steep learning curve and the work that lies ahead.
I also remember discovering something important: nobody hands you confidence before you begin. Confidence is built because you begin.
There is no magical moment when you suddenly feel completely ready.
In fact, if you wait until you feel entirely comfortable, you may wait forever.
Some of the biggest transitions occur when moving from being part of the team to leading the team. Suddenly, the relationships change. Expectations change. The way you see yourself changes. The way others see you changes too. It can feel isolating and overwhelming. You question your decisions, your authority and sometimes your identity.
That discomfort isn’t a sign you’ve made a mistake.
It’s a sign that you’re growing.
The same applies whether you’re stepping into your first management role, accepting your first executive appointment, joining your first board, launching your own business or rebuilding your career after adversity. Every significant chapter in our lives begins with uncertainty.
The leaders who thrive are not necessarily the smartest, the most qualified or the most experienced, or the most confident.
They are the ones who are prepared to be beginners.
They ask questions.
They seek advice.
They remain curious.
They accept that they won’t always get everything right.
And most importantly, they keep moving.
I’ve also learned that our first times never really stop.
There is always another first.
A first crisis.
A first major failure.
A first public criticism.
A first reinvention.
A first opportunity to become someone we have never been before.
Perhaps that’s one of the greatest gifts of leadership.
It continually asks us to evolve.
So if you’re standing on the edge of something new, questioning whether you’re ready, wondering whether you belong, or worrying that everyone else knows something you don’t, remember this:
We’ve all had a first time.
And the people you admire most weren’t fearless when they started.
They were simply brave enough to begin.
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