#62: Do you enjoy leading people?
And a bit about my first week in Maastricht
Hey friends,
Welcome to the 62nd edition of the “Level Up Ladder” newsletter.
1/ Some updates from my side
I told you that I would have a busy period and it continues to be one. Last Thursday, I flew back from Prague, jumped in my car, and went to Bulgaria, where we went to a wedding on Friday.
It was the wedding of two close friends and it was a great setting on the Black Sea shore. We had a lot of fun.
On Saturday, I drove back to Bucharest to catch the plane to Amsterdam. I landed in Amsterdam at 8:30 PM, and three trains and a bus later, I was in Maastricht at midnight.
I am spending two weeks in Maastricht, with my MBA cohort. We have four courses, each three days long, and we have a one-day break between them. The courses are intense, spanning from 9 to 5:30 PM and we have group assignments that we need to present on the last course day.
Up to now, we have done “Thinking and Deciding in Business” and “Leading High-Performance Teams”. I am on my break day, and starting tomorrow we will have “Boardroom Executive Simulation” and “Managing Creativity & Innovation in Business.”
The harder part is that we are a group of 30 people, and most evenings end with a party or at least a couple of drinks while watching Euro 2024.
Maastricht is a beautiful town, with a lot of green spaces and nice buildings. It would be amazing if it wouldn’t rain 25 hours a day. I go to school on foot each day, so it’s great to start the day with a 50-minute walk (unless I have already gone for a run before, which happened a couple of times).
It’s a great experience for us as a group to be away and spend so much time together. It’s like a 2-week team-building or a summer camp. But, of course, as you would imagine, some tensions arise and it’s important for us as a group to understand what are our boundaries with regard to jokes or the way we act. It’s probably the most important lesson we’ll learn during our time here.
Here are some photos from Maastricht.
Next week, you’ll probably see more photos, and I’ll tell you more about my trip.
2/ Do you like leading people?
During our leadership course this week, our teacher came up with a surprising statistic:
“About one-third of leaders don’t like to lead.”
Empirically, I can relate to that. I know many people who are in leadership or management positions for other reasons.
One of them is money. Traditionally, leadership roles pay better than roles in execution. So, if you want to earn more, you need to step up and lead.
The second one is status. And this is, probably, the main reason I wanted to become a leader. Ever since I was a kid, my parents would praise bosses and tell me that if you want to succeed, you need to be a boss. This is particularly important in an ex-communist country, like Romania, where authority is not disputed.
The third one is inertia. You are a good programmer, and your boss promotes you, or “gives you the chance”, to lead other programmers. As most companies don’t have a different career track for people who want to advance but stay in an “individual contributor” role, high-performers are promoted into leadership roles.
This raises an important question:
What should you do if you realize you don’t like leading people, but still want to have a meaningful job with an impact.
(Again, I won’t get here into the process of reflection, but consider that you already figured out that you don’t want to be a leader anymore.)
1. Identify Your Strengths and Interests
Take some time to evaluate your skills, strengths, and interests. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or StrengthsFinder can provide valuable insights.
Seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, and supervisors to understand what you excel at and enjoy doing.
2. Explore Specialized Roles
Consider roles that require deep technical knowledge or specialized skills, such as data analysis, software architecture, or engineering. These positions often offer high salaries without the need for people management.
Look into consulting roles where you can leverage your expertise to advise companies without managing a team.
3. Pursue Advanced Education and Certifications
Enroll in advanced degree programs (e.g., Master's, Ph.D.) in your field of interest. Higher qualifications can lead to better-paying roles.
Obtain industry-recognized certifications that can enhance your credibility and open up higher-paying opportunities. For example, certifications in project management, cybersecurity, or finance.
PS: In a lot of companies, the role of Project Manager is an individual contribution role. You only manage the project, not the people.
4. Develop a Niche Expertise
Focus on becoming an expert in a niche area within your field. Specialists are often in high demand and can command higher salaries.
Publish articles, give talks, or create content related to your niche. Establishing yourself as a thought leader can lead to lucrative opportunities.
5. Network and Build Professional Relationships
Attend industry conferences, join professional associations, and connect with peers in your field. Networking can lead to job opportunities and collaborations that align with your interests.
Find mentors who can guide you in your career path and help you navigate opportunities for growth and higher earnings.
Conclusion
By focusing on your strengths, pursuing specialized roles, and continuously developing your skills, you can achieve career success and financial rewards without having to lead people.
Listen, the key is to find a path that aligns with your passions and strengths. You can still earn nice money by being a niche contributor, a consultant or a thought leader.
And even if you don’t find a job that doesn’t pay as much as you are earning as a leader, does it matter that much? In the end, if you are unhappy in your role, money won’t matter that much.
3/ Recommendations
Rudy Francisco - My Honest Poem
I love slam poetry; maybe you’ll like it too.
Ryan Holiday's 3-Step System for Reading Like a Pro
Ryan Holiday, “stoicism guru” and renowned author, talks about his system for remembering everything he reads.
Ryan Holiday on the Modern Wisdom podcast
Talking about Ryan Holiday, here’s a brilliant podcast episode with him in which he distills his 11 stoic lessons to improve your life. Give it a listen.
Thank you for reading, and let me know if you liked something in particular in this newsletter.
I hope you have a great weekend, friends!
Leo
P.S.: If you want to read my content daily, don’t forget to follow me on Linkedin.
P.S. 2: If you want to take your productivity to the next level, check out my extensive Productivity course that can accelerate your career.