24 and in charge

In this series, I want to share my journey of learning how to lead a team effectively. People management is both challenging and deeply rewarding, and I'll reflect on the lessons that shaped me — from navigating diverse personalities to fostering open communication.

Whether you're new to leadership or simply curious about the process, I hope my experiences will resonate with you and help you on your own path to becoming a better leader.

Management vs. Leadership: A Critical Distinction

First, I would like to differentiate between "management" and "leadership." Both are interpersonal skills; however, management is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice, while leadership is often seen as an innate ability to inspire and influence others.

Contemporary management concepts emphasize that we should avoid using the word "management" when referring to people. It is considered more professional to say "lead people" instead of "manage people." I agree with that concept. Management is more about handling tasks, projects, and time; however, understanding personalities, dealing with human beings, and maintaining professionalism are definitely significant challenges.

While every great leader can manage, not every manager can lead.

24 and in charge

Reflecting on how I learned to manage a team, I realize that, fortunately, I have had a natural ability to lead since childhood. However, my management skills were forged through pain.

Early in my career, I worked for a company where my managers lacked empathy; they did not invest in understanding their team, and ignored team development. These experiences caused me significant stress, and I vividly remember the moment I was very stressed by my manager and telling myself, "When I become a manager, I will never treat my team the way I was treated."

My First Day as a Manager

It wasn't long after that that I became a manager at the age of 24! On my first day, I recalled every negative experience with my former managers and consciously adopted approaches that were the opposite of their methods.

Curious about the steps I took to lead my very first team? Join me in the next article, and I'll share the insider details you won't want to miss.