From the Tools to Leadership: How I Overcame Imposter Syndrome as a Young Manager

I still remember the day I was promoted to Site Foreman.

One moment, I was working alongside my team, hands-on, building houses like I had done for years. The next, I was in charge, directing the very same men I had been working shoulder to shoulder with. Some of them had decades of experience in the trade, and now I was the one leading them.

I’d worked hard to get there. I’d put in the hours, completed the training courses, and had a solid understanding of building houses. But stepping into leadership was an entirely different challenge.

The Weight of Responsibility

When you’re on the tools, your job is clear. You show up, do your work, and get paid. But as a manager, everything changes.

Now, I was the one making the decisions. I was the one solving problems, keeping things moving, and dealing with the curveballs that came flying in daily.

And I felt it.

That nagging feeling that I wasn’t experienced enough. That I didn’t know enough. That the guys around me, some of whom had been doing this for longer than I’d been alive were secretly questioning why I was in charge.

Imposter syndrome hit me hard.

I had two choices:

Let self-doubt take over and retreat back to what felt comfortable.

or

Step up and figure it out.

Finding My Own Leadership Style

Managing a site isn’t about knowing everything, because no one does. It’s about being fast, adaptable, and decisive. It’s about following processes, keeping things running smoothly, and handling problems as they come.

At first, I thought leadership meant being the most knowledgeable person in the room. But I quickly learned that leadership is about managing people, not just projects.

💡 I developed my own leadership style, one that worked for both me and my team.💡 I mastered conflict management, navigating difficult conversations with confidence.💡 I figured out how to lead, not just manage.

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Now It’s Time to Give Back

That experience, going from the tools to leadership, battling imposter syndrome, and learning how to manage a team effectively, shaped who I am today.

It’s why I created Lead with Impact.

Because I know what it’s like to step into leadership and feel completely unprepared.

This programme is for new managers who want to:

✅ Transition from being "one of the team" to leading with confidence.

✅ Develop their own leadership style instead of copying what doesn’t work.

✅ Handle conflict and difficult conversations with ease.

✅ Learn the skills no one teaches you when you step into management.

I’ve been where you are. And I know that leadership isn’t about knowing it all, it’s about learning how to manage and inspire the people around you.

If you're a new manager looking for real world leadership skills, let’s talk. Drop me a message or check out Lead with Impact here.