When Going Back to Being an Individual Contributor Starts to Feel Really Tempting

Leading people is hard but it doesn't mean you are not meant to.

I coached a manager recently who said,

“I think I’m just going to go back to being an individual contributor. This people leadership stuff is too much.”

I got it. Like, for real, I understood.

When you’re a high-performing, individual contributor, someone who crushed deadlines, delivered flawless work, trained others, got noticed, there’s a rhythm you build around that kind of success. It’s fast. It’s clear. It’s measurable. Managing people is a different kind of work.

Now, you’re not just responsible for what you produce. You’re responsible for how other people show up, for how they perform, how they grow, how they stay on track and that can make you feel brand new.

So yes, sometimes it feels easier to say,

“Forget it. Let me just go back to doing what I was good at.”

Just know you didn’t become a manager by accident. You had a why.

Maybe you wanted more visibility. Maybe you wanted to drive high-impact projects. Maybe you wanted to help people grow. Maybe you wanted to make real business impact. Maybe you wanted to earn more.

Whatever your why was, don’t lose sight of it just because it’s hard right now.

Leadership takes a new skill set.

Yes, your old skills got you here, but they won’t always be enough to keep you feeling confident in your leadership role.

You’re not failing. You’re just growing and, for me, that felt uncomfortable before it felt powerful.

Here’s how I coach managers:

Define where your gaps are. Build those skills and learn to lead in a way that lets your why come to life. You deserve to be in this role. You’re a leader for a reason.

If you’re wondering how to do that… how to develop your skills, how to turn it around, how to feel like you belong in your management role, ask me. Even if you’ve been feeling this way for months…

Just hit reply to this email and ask your question. Whether it’s big or small, tactical or emotional, I’d love to help you.

Let’s get you to the other side of the struggle.

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Still Going Down… Free Coach Fridays (via DM!)

Happening every Friday in July, I’m offering free coaching via LinkedIn DMs. Yep—no sign-up, no Zoom link, no pressure. Just real support for real situations.

If you’re a manager (or trying to become one) and need help thinking through:

• A tricky team issue

• A time management problem

• A hard convo you’ve been avoiding

• Coaching a team member who’s not improving

• Figuring out how to get to that next level

• Or even just want a second opinion on a strategy or idea you’re working on…

DM me on LinkedIn and I’ll respond with actionable guidance that you can quickly implement to start seeing results right away.

Click here to DM me on LinkedIn: Free Coach Fridays

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🎉 Bonus for Paid Subscribers 🎉

If you’re a paid subscriber of The Leadership Blueprint, you’ve got a little something extra. Instead of DMing, you can actually book a private 1:1 coaching session with me as part of Free Coach Fridays. Just us, face-to-face (virtually), to talk through whatever’s on your mind.

If that’s you, just reply to this email and let me know you’d like a session. I’ll send over the link to book it.

I can’t wait to hear from you.

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🚀 I help managers develop next-level leadership skills so they can grow faster in their careers. If you want that kind of support, it would be my pleasure to help you get there. Book a call to learn more about working with me 1:1.

Click the button below to schedule a sales call with me.

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