What To Do After Your Promotion, According To Sabina Nawaz

Forbes

23-07-2025

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I recently spoke with Sabina Nawaz about her book You're The Boss: Become the Manager You Want To Be. Nawaz is an executive coach and former Forbes contributor who focuses on senior leaders and high-potential employees within organizations. She spent fifteen years at Microsoft, first in software development and then in human resources. As Senior Director of Leadership, Management, Employee Development, and then Succession Planning, Nawaz launched several worldwide programs to help identify and cultivate Microsoft's current and future leaders.
Nawaz discussed how leaders can avoid pitfalls and keep moving forward.
Being a Boss Comes with New Rules
Nawaz said leaders aren't always aware of the new rules that come with their promotion. For example, the leader may share concerns about their team to someone, and then that person shares with someone else. The whispers echo back; the new leader wonders whom they can trust. Another issue that new leaders can struggle with is increased visibility. You as a leader have an increased chance of messing up or making a decision that not everyone likes. Whereas before you operated in the wings, now you're on the stage, in the spotlight.
The Cost of Taking on too Much.
If you've achieved success, you may want to take on more. You're driven by your enthusiasm to make a meaningful impact, and often expected to deliver immediately. You have a vision; you take on a lot; therefore, your teams take on a lot. This is where things can go awry; take on too much, and you may burn out your teams. Nawaz shares advice to help you navigate the tough times and missteps of leadership; you don't need to do everything at once or take on every opportunity that shows comes across your desk. Be careful and selective as to what you want you and your team to tackle. Taking on too much will overload your team and create churn.
Nawaz said it's hard for many leaders, including herself, to reckon with failure. Until they receive a big promotion, many leaders haven't had to grapple with failure. Then, the leader is playing on a bigger stage with higher stakes—some failure is inevitable, because everyone fails. Leaders who experience stress after a failure may grapple with burnout, anger, or even panic attacks.
However, you can manage your burnout, relieve pressure on yourself and your teams, and set a smooth course for your leadership. Nawaz shares five actions you can take to find your footing after a big promotion.
Five Actions to Become a Calm, Centered Leader
1. First, slow down. As a leader you have to make fast decisions; it can be easy to keep playing out old scripts in your mind without taking the time to think creatively. By slowing down and resisting the urge to take on too much, you can think more creatively and find new, elegant solutions to pressing problems. You also become more attuned to nuances in conversations; you're better equipped to see the whole picture, and therefore make better decisions.
2. Second, ask more questions. The more success you have, the fewer people who are willing to tell you the truth. Pretend you're a journalist. Get used to asking these questions: 'What do you think? Or 'What is one way we can fix this situation?'
3. Third, delegate. Promotions can be tricky; you may still want to micromanage and stay in the details of your teams' operation because that role feels comfortable; yet if you do, you're living in the past. Now is the time to lean into delegation. However, don't bypass all the details and abdicate your leadership.
4. Fourth, be methodical. After a promotion, you probably want to deliver immediately so your managers see your value. However, it's okay to be methodical and keep learning. Consider carefully your next big move; think strategically about how you want to move the company or department.
5. Fifth, always be learning. Successful people are always learning—not always managing. Read and learn every day. Set aside time each week to work on your development, no matter your current leadership level.
Getting promoted and leading larger teams can have many hidden traps. You've been successful in the past--but now you're more visible. Delivering the work can be harder, and the stakes are much higher as well. However, your new role needn't leave you floundering. Nawaz shows leaders how to take a grounded approach to playing on a bigger stage by slowing down, asking questions, and methodically planning for success.