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Starting a new leadership role is exciting. It can also be uncomfortable.

As I step into a new role myself, I’ve been reminded that even when you have experience behind you, there can still be moments of doubt. Do I know enough? Will people respect me? What if I get something wrong? What if I’m not quite as good as people think I am?

Impostor syndrome has a funny way of appearing precisely when we are doing something that matters.

I’ve experienced these feelings at different points in my career, and as I begin another chapter, I’ve found myself returning to some of the lessons that have helped me through previous leadership transitions.

You were successful for a reason

Someone saw something in you.

Whether you were appointed through an internal process or moved into a new organisation, you didn’t arrive in that role by accident.

People saw your experience, your potential, your qualities and your ability to make a difference. It’s easy to focus on the things you don’t yet know and forget the qualities that got you there in the first place.

You don’t need to prove that the appointment was the right decision on day one. Give yourself time to grow into it.

Remember you are probably your own worst critic

We often scrutinise ourselves in ways we would never scrutinise a colleague. A slightly awkward meeting becomes evidence that we aren’t good at leadership. A decision that didn’t quite work becomes something we replay repeatedly. Meanwhile, everyone else has probably moved on.

Try to give yourself the same grace you would give someone else who was learning. Being new doesn’t mean being incapable. It means being new.

One practical action is to seek some perspective rather than allowing your own assumptions to fill in the gaps. However, rather than asking, “How am I doing?”, which can produce a fairly vague answer, ask someone you trust a more specific question: “What is one thing you think I could do differently?”

It gives you something concrete to reflect on and reminds you that asking for feedback is part of becoming a better leader, not evidence that you aren’t ready for the role.

Separate the task from the person

Something going wrong doesn’t mean you are going wrong.

A presentation might not land. A conversation might not go as planned. A decision might need revisiting. These are experiences to learn from, not verdicts on your leadership.

One of the most useful questions I’ve learned to ask is: what didn’t work, and what can I do differently next time? Rather than: what does this say about me?

The first question creates growth. The second can create doubt.

Know your strengths - and keep developing

Starting a new role can make us obsess over our gaps. We see everything we don’t know and forget everything we do.

Write your strengths down.

It sounds simple, but having a clear understanding of what you bring to a role gives you something to return to when confidence dips. At the same time, be honest about your areas for development. Ask for feedback. Find people who can coach you. Seek out perspectives from those around you.

Confidence doesn’t come from believing you have nothing left to learn. It comes from knowing what you can do well while remaining open to getting better.

Remember that everyone started somewhere

This might be the most reassuring thought of all: the leaders you admire, the people you see as incredibly accomplished, the colleagues whose confidence and expertise you aspire to - they were all new once.

They had their first leadership meeting. Their first difficult conversation. Their first decision they weren’t completely sure about.

They made mistakes, learned from them and kept going. Leadership isn’t a destination where suddenly everything makes sense. It is a continual journey of learning, adapting and becoming more effective.

So, if you’re stepping into a new leadership role and occasionally wondering whether you belong, remember this: feeling uncomfortable doesn’t mean you aren’t ready. Sometimes it simply means you’re growing.

You don’t need to have everything figured out - you need to be willing to learn, to listen, to reflect and to keep moving forward. And perhaps most importantly, remember that you were given the opportunity for a reason.

You belong in the room.

Ian Watts is head of Secondary at The International School @ ParkCity, Kuala Lumpur