What Do You Do When You’re Given A Position You Don’t Feel Ready For?

One evening, during our A-Level class meeting convened by our form six class teacher, we were tasked with choosing someone to lead the weekly class assembly, convene meetings, and preside over them. Two ladies volunteered and were asked to present their manifestos. They did, but our class teacher—whom we were meeting for the very first time—wasn’t convinced. She seemed to be looking for something specific.  She then asked if there wasn’t anyone else bold, confident, articulate, and organised enough to take on the position.

And that’s when I heard my name. She had called me to the front of the class. I froze! I didn’t expect her to know me.

See, I’d been sitting at the very back, comfortably relaxed, deliberately positioned so there would be no chance of making eye contact with her. Our class teacher had quite the reputation of being very tough, or so I thought. I’d been warned that impressing her was as difficult as a camel going through the eye of a needle.

Still, I made my way to the front, silently praying all sorts of prayers, hoping she was calling me for something else. But as soon as I stood before her, she asked why I hadn’t volunteered and told me to present my manifesto on the spot. Hmm… I did. Shortly after, we were asked to step out so the voting could begin. Long story short, I was appointed.

Outwardly, everything about me questioned my readiness for that responsibility. But inwardly, I chose to search for the version of myself that was ready— the one my class teacher saw, and I unleashed it. I also chose to let go of the biases I had heard about my teacher and instead learn from her as much as I could. I asked about her expectations and made no excuses in meeting them.

Every Wednesday, we sat together to review past meetings, draft meeting agendas and topics of discussion. And as we did, I studied her closely, and turned those observations into my advantage. By the end of my tenure, she remarked how well pleased she was with me. So much so that my classmates thought she favored me, because they had never once heard her speak negatively of me, or speak highly of her past leaders.

There’s a common assumption that the moment someone takes the top seat, they’ve got it all figured out. Turns out that leadership is rarely about being ready in a snap, as it is becoming ready. So, what do you do when you’re given a position that you think you’re not ready for?

When a new role lands in your lap, especially one you feel unprepared for, it’s tempting to shrink back. But here’s something I’ve learned: nothing just happens. Opportunities don’t appear at random. They’re drawn to you because there’s something in you—visible or hidden—that aligns with the responsibility of that seat. Whether you see it in yourself is another matter.

This isn’t about faking it. It’s about accelerating a faster version of your leadership growth. It’s about stepping into a role with the awareness that the position itself will shape you in real time, and refusing to remain neutral while it does.

Of course, I must say that the best way to minimize the feeling of unreadiness is to prepare for leadership transitions ahead of time. Here are a few ways to do that:

1. Define the assignment beyond the title. Don’t get distracted by the perks—the desk, the status, the upgraded email signature.

 Ask yourself: What will actually be required of me? What decisions will I need to make? What will my team expect? How do I peer into that future? And answer honestly, not as the person you are today, but as the leader you’re becoming.

• Separate worthiness from readiness. Feeling nervous doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the role. You’re there because someone saw potential in you. The best way to honor that faith is to rise faster than you imagined possible.

• Acclimate to your future self. Consistently draw from the version of yourself that belongs in that role. Picture them, study them, practice being them. Build the image of that leader and then work backward.

• Document your becoming. Capture what you’re learning, unlearning, and changing along the way. Track how each step pulls you closer to the leader you envision.

• Lean into mentorship. No leader grows in isolation. Seek out people who’ve walked the path before you; mentors who can challenge, sharpen, and guide you. Their perspective can help you avoid blind spots and accelerate your growth. Wisdom borrowed is still wisdom gained. But while at it, do not lose your unique self.

Always remember that when you step into a bigger assignment, you step in as the blueprint, and build as you go. The weight will stretch you. And day by day, you’ll grow into the version of yourself that belongs at the head of the table.