Embracing Leadership: A Journey of Growth and Support
- Deborah Ann Martin
- Nov 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
If you’ve made it through this series, take a breath. That already says something about the kind of leader you are. You’re showing up. You’re learning. You’re trying. That matters.
Stepping into a supervisory role isn’t easy. No one gives you a perfect manual on day one. Most of us figure it out one lesson, one hard day, one breakthrough at a time. Some days you’ll feel like you crushed it. Other days, you'll wonder if you're even cut out for this. That’s normal. That’s leadership.
I know because I’ve lived it. I’ve had to make tough calls. I’ve led through layoffs, budget cuts, and team drama. I’ve trained people who didn’t want to be trained. I’ve coached folks who were smarter than me. I’ve cried behind closed doors. I’ve lost sleep over performance reviews. I’ve questioned myself more times than I can count.
And I still come back every day. Why? Because leadership matters.
It matters to the person who’s finally seen. It matters to the person who grows because you believed in them. It matters to the team that becomes more than just coworkers—they become something stronger because you helped build it.
What You’ve Built by Reading This Series
By going through this series, you've already done something many supervisors never do: you invested in yourself.
You’ve learned:
How to set the tone in your first 90 days
How to train different personalities
How to manage time, morale, and conflict
How to coach others without losing yourself
How to recover from mistakes and lead with empathy
This isn’t just theory. This is your toolkit. Print it. Bookmark it. Come back to it. Because the next time you're thrown into a tough conversation, asked to make an impossible deadline, or feeling like you're barely treading water, you’ll know you’ve got a foundation.
The Importance of Connection in Leadership
Connection is vital in leadership. It’s not just about managing tasks or hitting targets. It’s about building relationships. When you connect with your team, you create a safe space for them to share their thoughts and feelings. This fosters trust and opens the door to honest communication.
Take time to understand your team members. What are their strengths? What challenges do they face? By showing genuine interest, you empower them. This not only boosts morale but also enhances productivity. When people feel valued, they’re more likely to give their best.
Final Pep Talk: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Great
Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me when I first became a supervisor: You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to care enough to keep trying.
Here's my fundamentals pep talk:
It’s okay if you mess up.
It’s okay if you forget something.
It’s okay if you don’t feel confident yet.
It's okay if you fail.
We learn the most and become more successful when these happen. You use that as a lesson learned for you, the people under you, and other management personnel. No one likes when we don't get it right. But when you don't, admit it, fix it, learn from it, grow from it, and share it.
What’s Not Okay? Giving Up on Yourself.
Because this world needs more supervisors who lead with heart. Who knows how to listen. Who knows when to speak up. Who aren't afraid to say, "I'm still learning."
And if you’ve gotten this far, you are absolutely one of those people.
What You Can Try Today
Write down three wins you’ve had this month (big or small).
Schedule one “coffee chat” with a team member to check in—not about tasks, but about them.
Re-read the chapter that challenged you most. What has changed since then?
Leave yourself a Post-it on your desk: “Progress, not perfection.”
Next Steps
This doesn’t have to be goodbye. As you grow in your leadership journey, remember, you’re not alone.
Join our peer community of new and seasoned supervisors.
Connect in Neighbor Chat to get support from people who’ve been there.
Book a Next Step Coaching session if you want personalized guidance to keep growing.
You’re doing better than you think. And if no one else has told you this lately: I’m proud of you.
Keep showing up. Keep leading with intention. Keep learning. You’ve got this.
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