L Plates & Leadership: Navigating the Trials of a First-Time Leader (Part 1)

I have  been seeing quite a few "L plate" learner drivers on the road lately. Maybe it is  because one of my teenagers is about to start learning how to drive—and the thought is petrifying. I have  been researching the best driving schools in Nairobi because, let’s be honest, I’m not about to send them to one of those "utajulia kwa barabara" places where you get a grand total of two hours behind the wheel before they declare you road-ready. 

But I digress.

I could not help but notice something else—many of these learner drivers have their windows rolled down. Maybe it’s Nairobi’s heat, or maybe (just maybe) they are  sitting on the ‘hot seat’ and hoping that the fresh breeze will cool their nerves before they have to switch lanes in the madness that is Nairobi traffic.

And that got me thinking…

Leadership Without an "L Plate"

Imagine this: 

You have  just been promoted. Wohoo!  You were a great performer in your previous role—maybe even the best on your team. Now, they hand you the keys to a 20-wheel truck (a.k.a. a whole team) and expect you to navigate from leafy suburb smoothness to downtown chaos—all while keeping everyone safe.

Sound familiar?

Many first-time leaders experience this exact thing. One day, you are cruising comfortably in a role you’ve mastered, the next, you are  in the thick of leadership streets, trying to navigate through unexpected conflicts, urgent demands flying in from all directions, that one team member who just will not  budge no matter what you do. 

And yet—unlike learner drivers—there’s no "L plate" to signal to the world that you’re new at this. No instructor sitting next to you, calming your nerves and saying,"Ease off the accelerator, check your mirrors, watch for that pedestrian… Now, switch lanes."

Instead, you are  expected to figure it out—to move from a Class C driving license (individual contributor) to an articulated truck license (team leader) without proper training.

So why don’t we have "L plates" for first-time leaders?

Why do we expect people to seamlessly transition into leadership without someone guiding them through it all?

That’s where I’ll pick up in Part 2—because if you’ve ever found yourself suddenly in charge and wondering, “Wait… did I miss a leadership manual somewhere?”—you’re not alone. 

But first, I’d love to hear from you—what expectations did you have when you first became a leader?