TLDR: Being skilled and being a leader require different sets of abilities. Both roles are important, and your strengths can guide you toward the right path. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on building your unique skills and, if desired, develop leadership abilities to pursue your goals.

The Balance Between Skills and Leadership

Have you ever heard people say that C grade students often become the ones who own companies and employ A grade students? Does that mean being a C grade student is better? Not exactly. It suggests that some qualities, which aren’t measured by grades, may make people more suitable for leadership roles. But that doesn’t mean skilled individuals can’t rise to leadership—or that leaders don’t need skills.

For a while, I struggled with this idea. I felt frustrated seeing people less technically skilled than me earn more or hold leadership positions. It felt unfair. But then I realized my perspective was incomplete. Leadership and technical skills are different, and both are valuable in unique ways. Understanding this distinction changed how I approached my career and my goals.

Why Leaders Need Different Skills

It’s easy to assume that leaders don’t have skills if they aren’t as technically talented as their team. But the truth is, leaders often excel in areas like:

* Managing people: They bring together diverse individuals to achieve a common goal.

* Strategic thinking: They focus on the big picture and plan for the future.

* Decision-making under pressure: They bear the responsibility for successes and failures.

* Communication: They ensure everyone understands their role and the team’s goals.

Some leadership roles, however, do benefit from or even require technical expertise. For example, in technology-driven fields like engineering or data science, leaders who understand the technical aspects of their work can make better-informed decisions and earn the trust of their teams. On the other hand, roles in industries like marketing or general management may emphasise people skills and strategic vision over technical depth.

The Value of Being Skilled

Being skilled offers many personal and professional benefits. You grow as a person, find fulfillment, and become an essential part of any team. When I looked back on my experiences, I saw how my skills had prepared me for leadership:

* YouTube Channels: Creating and managing a focused YouTube channel with my husband showed me the value of technical skills. Because we could handle much of the work ourselves, we saved money and had creative control. This allowed us to channel more energy into the content.

* Leading a Content Team: As the head of a content team, my technical knowledge became a foundation for leadership. I wasn’t doing the work directly, but my skills helped me guide the team. I also developed new abilities like:

* Training team members and providing resources for their growth.

* Coordinating projects to ensure smooth collaboration.

* Setting strategies for long-term success.

* Handling underperforming employees with empathy.

* Improving processes for better efficiency.

* Managing stakeholders and maintaining self-awareness to improve my performance.

These experiences showed me that leadership is not about abandoning skills but building on them while learning new ones.

Risk-Taking and Resilience in Leadership

Two key qualities that often separate leaders from skilled individuals are risk-taking and resilience:

* Risk-taking: Leaders are often willing to take risks and bend the rules to achieve their vision. This doesn’t mean being reckless, but rather having the courage to step outside the comfort zone and pursue opportunities others might avoid.

* Resilience: Leadership comes with challenges and setbacks. Resilient leaders roll with the punches, learn from failures, and adapt to keep moving forward.

If you aspire to leadership, cultivating these traits can be as important as honing your technical expertise.

What You Can Do

If you’ve ever felt “not enough” because you’re not in a leadership position, remember there are many ways to grow. Here are three steps to help:

* Identify Your Skills: Reflect on areas where you naturally excel but may overlook. For me, these were data analytics and content creation. Recognize your unique strengths and double down on them.

* Build Leadership Skills: Seek opportunities to manage or guide others, whether at work, through volunteering, or in personal projects. Leadership requires practice, just like any skill. One way I have learned to do this is to work with freelancers on a project that I create and lead. I did this at some point earlier in my working career, and this gave me some practice in developing my leadership skills.

* Leverage Your Abilities: Use your technical and leadership skills strategically to move closer to your goals. Understand the paths others have taken to reach their positions and adapt their strategies to your journey.

Different Paths to Success

The story about C students and A students isn’t absolute. Many A students go on to become leaders, and many C students don’t. For example, Elon Musk and Bill Gates were highly skilled in their fields, while Steve Jobs, known for his marketing and design eye, became successful by complementing his talents with technical collaborators.

The key is to learn what works for you. There are countless paths to success, and these paths can vary greatly depending on the industry and personal goals. For example, someone in technology might find that blending technical expertise with leadership skills is essential, while someone in creative fields might thrive by focusing on vision and collaboration. Understanding the requirements of your field and aligning them with your ambitions can help you choose the right path. Some focus on technical expertise, others on leadership, and some blend the two. What matters is understanding your goals and building the skills to achieve them.

Conclusion

Don’t waste energy comparing yourself to others or feeling bitter about their success. Instead, learn from them. Figure out how they achieved their goals and decide if that path aligns with your own. Whether you remain a skilled expert or grow into a leader, both roles are valuable. Cultivate your ability to take risks and bounce back from setbacks. These qualities, combined with your technical and leadership skills, will help you shape the future you envision.

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