Yes, there is still technical level work after you get promoted to some “lead” type role. It’s not a wholesale change.

The problem is that many of the newly promoted don’t quite understand what a promotion actually means.

Your job title will change. “Yes.” Your pay will (probably) change. “Great!” Your responsibilities will change. “Yes, I know.”

But do you know? Really?

You see, most promotions are “and” promotions. Meaning, you will have technical work and you will have leadership work. You will be splitting your time between technical and leadership duties.

We are good with the technical stuff (that’s how most of us achieved a promotion), but we are less good with the leadership stuff. Not because we are dim, but because we just haven’t had enough direct experience.

Herein lies the problem.

Over time, most of us gravitate toward our strengths, and procrastinate our weaknesses. Yet with that promotion we are now graded on our weakness instead of our strength.

It’s a trick!

When entertaining a promotion, think through how your work  will change. Your future team will thank you!