Young Team Leader - needs advice

**Posts:** 1 · by **Kitcachu** » Mon May 11, 2015 7:09 pm

Is there such a thing? Lol, anyway. I am young to be a team Leader. I am just 23 years old. Honestly, this is the second time for me to be a leader. In my first company I was promoted to be a Team leader at my 6th month.

And now, in this second current job. I was promoted again as a team leader on my 6th month, again!

It's like "I did not chose the thug life, the thug Life chose me" LOL. I am a hardworker and good employee. I never imagine myself as a leader everytime I start up. I just wanted to work and to make the company happy.

Now, I will be 2 years in my current company. Im handling people who are all waaaaay older than me. (I am handling 9 web developers).

Recently, I get insecured, anxious and feel worthless. Especially when we hired a senior developer and, projects got out of hand due to lots of clients. I always feel tired and I feel that the team is not good because of me. Nowadays, i think about stepping down. I feel that, someone older than me (the newly hired senior developer, whose a decade older than me - to be specific) should be in my position. Is it right to think that way?

I honestly do not want to leave the company I am in right now. They are like a family to me. But these are what I feel lately in terms of work.

I distribute projects to the team always and always catch all the pressure. I work hard and multi task just to finish all our pendings. I am trying my best to improve the process in work (still trying) and improving communications. I am always doing my best, but feel underappreciated. My team does not know how I catch all the pressure. Is that even right?

How can I be effective and not feel this way? And how do I say if I am still doing the right thing for my job?

I am confused, I sometimes want to give up. But sometimes, I still want to do my best and go on. But a little failure and disappointment gets to me already.

any advice?

I always think that maturity is not based on age, but I still feel insecure sometimes too

Please enlighten me. Any words would be appreciated.

**Posts:** 1554 · by **laureat** » Tue May 12, 2015 12:46 am

Hi there

i believe that the best leaders out there is one who has Lots of energy and stands focused on the job

As a result, he inspires others to do the same to stand focused and add lots of energy there.

it is like a big flame that makes other small flames bigger

because of energy you have , because you stand focused i believe this is why people trusting your leadership because you inspire ,

Nobody needs a lazy man as a leader
A leader is one who helps The most

Even in animal world you never see a lazy animal leading the team
You never see a old animal leading a wolf pack

The one who has lots of energy
the one who helps the most
is naturaly a leader

someone with lots of experience may be a good teacher, may give you good lessons but that doesnt make him a leader, becauae a leader has to stand alert all the time and not fall a sleep too easy

you are the one who is trusted
Old man falls a sleep too easy you cant trust

No if you become anxious you get tires faster
Try to be more comfortable

**Posts:** 1554 · by **laureat** » Tue May 12, 2015 2:18 am

The fear is what makes someone a natural follower

Because if you always hesitate to do something, because of fear someone has to come there aNd help you move forward It means others has to lead you

do not be afraid To make that step forward

Followers say; think twice and jump after

Leaders say: jump first and think after

Someone has to jump

We cannot all be thinking

Life has to be lived

Decisions has to be made

If we think too much we cannot move lots of steps forward

jump first and think after

**Posts:** 2271 · by **Wildcard** » Wed May 13, 2015 7:22 am

I always think that maturity is not based on age, but I still feel insecure sometimes too

Please enlighten me. Any words would be appreciated.

Here is a nice little definition to start out with...Whether you are a team leader or top management....

Managing things is "Doing things right"...Leadership is "Doing the right things".

There are people that can manage very well, but suck at leadership, and then there are people that are good at leading, but suck at managing things. A good team leader or manager will be able to do both, but also be able to find the right balance between the two depending upon the situation and context. Sometimes you need more managing and less leading...sometimes more leading and less managing.

Of course this depends upon "who" you are dealing with in any specific situation....So in a sense, it is also about being flexible.

Which brings me to a problem you might be having...

One of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is that they want people to respect them because of their title (I dont think this applies to you, but it surely applies to many others)....This is not true...People respect you because of who you are and what you do...and how you treat others.

You feel insecure about your age? Then get out there and solve the problem!

All you have to do is put yourself in that mans shoes. Imagine yourself working in a company at the age of 23 and your team leader is 16 or 17. How would it make you feel if he was showing signs of insecurity every time he had to deal with you? Would you see him as a leader?

Keep in mind...You earn peoples respect.

What would that 16 or 17 year old have to say to you or do in order to earn your respect? What would make you think "Ok...I didnt expect that from a 17 year old...Maybe he deserves a little more of my respect "...?

What if he and or others do have an issue with your age or even think they are the better candidate and dont answer your questions truthfully? What then?

But what if there is no problem and you are just imagining things? How are you to know?

What would you expect from your team leader if you were him...or if you were one of the other colleges?

If you "Do the right thing" in this situation, the word will spread on how you handled the situation and people will see you differently.

**Posts:** 170 · by **your.transformations** » Fri May 15, 2015 4:45 am

Go as far as you can. Stepping down would look really bad (from professional stand point) especially since you were given a position of team leader, not asked for one yourself. I would say better "die trying" than give up, it would earn you more points even if they deicde to give the team leader position to somebody else.

Also there are plenty of ways how to work on your confidence and leader skills.

Good luck!

Young Team Leader - needs advice

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