I got promoted to team leader

I didn’t expect them to tell me this. Two weeks ago my boss asked me for an unexpected meeting. I was on lunch break, had gone out to eat with my wife, and when I saw the notification I thought “what did I do wrong?”

Honestly, I thought it was going to be a call-out. I rushed back, connected expecting the worst, and he says: “We’re promoting you to team leader.”

On the outside I told him yes, that I was willing, that it seemed great. Inside my reaction was literally “me? why?”

That’s when I understood what impostor syndrome is

I had always heard about impostor syndrome, but I had never felt it so intensely. In my mind it was “me? really?” There are people with more experience, people who know more, people who look more like leaders than me.

But I said yes immediately.

Why? Because something I’ve learned is that opportunities won’t wait for you until you feel “ready”. It never happens.

If they chose me, it’s for a reason

I’ve been programming for 6 years. My boss has seen my work, my efficiency, how quickly I solve problems. He knows how I work better than I do sometimes.

If he decided I should lead this frontend team, it wasn’t just because. He sees something I don’t see, or that I don’t believe yet.

And that’s the point: I have to own it.

They threw me to the wolves (and that’s okay)

They didn’t give me training. They didn’t tell me “study this first”. It was more like “here’s your team, see you later”.

The first week doing code reviews was weird. Being the one reviewing other devs’ code when I also make mistakes. But I realized something: I’ve always helped my friends when they ask me about code. This isn’t that different.

I’m liking it more than I thought. Being able to help make the team’s code better, seeing how they improve, making technical decisions. It feels good.

Why you should always say yes

I’ve seen many people reject opportunities because they “don’t feel ready”. I’ve done it myself before.

The truth is that nobody ever feels ready. Not even your company’s CEO felt ready when they started. Not even the most experienced senior developer felt ready at their first job.

Impostor syndrome never goes away. But you can decide what to do with it.

You can use it as an excuse not to advance, or you can say “okay, I feel this way, but I’m going to do it anyway”.

What I’ve learned so far

Two weeks later, I still don’t feel 100% qualified. But I’m learning fast.

The devs on my team don’t see me as an impostor. They ask me questions, trust my feedback, see value in what I tell them.

Sometimes impostor syndrome is just your brain being dramatic.

If you’re in a similar situation

Someone will probably offer you an opportunity that feels “too much” for you. A promotion, an important project, a new role.

Your first reaction will be to think of all the reasons why you’re not the right person.

But consider this: if they’re offering you the opportunity, it’s because someone else already evaluated whether you can do it. Trust their judgment more than your insecurity.

Say yes. Learn on the way. It works itself out.

The reality

I don’t know if I’m going to be a good leader. But I know I’m going to try my best.

And that, in the end, is all you can do when life gives you an opportunity you didn’t expect.

Don’t waste opportunities because of impostor syndrome. It feels bad, but it’s not real.

The opportunities are real.