The rewards of leadership

- I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "With great power comes great responsibility." You might've already been thinking along these lines as you've started considering what you'll need to accomplish in your new management role. It's true, you'll have a lot of responsibilities and considerably more power than your previous roles. So why take on all this additional burden? Sounds like a lot of work and stress. Make no mistake, it is. But taking on a leadership role, reaps substantial rewards. And it's important to remember these when you find yourself stuck, frustrated and wondering why you ever took on a management role in the first place. Remembering your personal why and the many benefits management affords you will be the secret to your success. On a fundamental level, the management track is great for job security. You know all those scary theories you hear about how machines are going to take over a huge percentage of human jobs? Management isn't one of them. According to the U.S bureau of labor statistics, employment in management occupations is projected to grow 5% from 2019 to 2029. This means that if you're a strong leader you shouldn't have too much trouble finding work throughout your career. Every organization in every industry in every country of the world needs strong leaders. Upping your leadership game isn't just a smart move for today. It's a brilliant one for tomorrow. Your promotion in the management generally also, comes with an immediate and tangible reward arrays. The earnings potential in management is substantial. You'll normally be one of, if not the top earners on your team and it doesn't stop there either. The salary range for managers is typically quite wide. So you'll have plenty of room for raises, bonuses and other compensation in the future. Career potential and earnings are important benefits. So enjoy them. But to tell you the truth, as my career progressed in management I found them to be outweighed by other rewards. Being in a management position especially one with direct reports, gives you an incredible opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of your team members. Think about it for a moment. Who has impacted your life the most? Family, friends, teachers and bosses. When you invest your time and caring in your team, you'll be able to serve as a mentor and then reward your team's growth and hard work with better opportunities. Watching a team member of yours grow and succeed is a wonderful feeling. And knowing you've had a hand in fostering that growth, is extremely rewarding. I recommend making this a part of your why because it will help you lead with empathy and become a great manager. On that same note as a manager, you'll have more opportunities to see the impact of your work on your organization's success. This is another great feeling. When you're a bit higher up in the org chart, you see more of the big picture and understand better how you are in your team's work, contributes to the company level wins. This can offer a ton of job satisfaction. Finally, and this may be the greatest benefit of all. The natural challenges of leadership will force you to evolve as a person. The responsibility, high profile and stress of management will serve as a curriculum for your own growth. No one is born a great leader. Leadership is a learned skill set. My time in management taught me to be more resilient, patient, open-minded, creative, decisive and collaborative. These traits don't just help me in my career. They make me a better person. So I encourage you to adopt a growth mindset and let your experience in management serve as a teacher. As you embark on your management journey and believe me, it is a journey. Keep all of these rewards in mind. Whatever it is for you, find your why. Your time, energy and hard work will be paid back tenfold throughout your career. Enjoy it.