Tomorrow, I will be stepping into my first role as a project manager at my Computer Science club. I’m excited to share some of the ideas that I have been cooking for some time with the students and collaborate on a project. However, a layer of fear has crept into my thoughts. What if I am not good enough? What if I can’t communicate my ideas clearly? What if I fail?
The Weight of Responsibility
As I worked on my PowerPoint slides and code snippets, an increasing amount of fear started to take over me. I will be overseeing a project involving students with varying programming backgrounds. I started to question myself. Will I be able to help the beginners understand all the necessary concepts? Will the more advanced members become bored and disengage? Not knowing each member’s expectations, goals, and skills is intimidating but, at the same time, exciting.
It’s exciting because this project will allow us to help each other learn new libraries, frameworks, and even programming languages. I can only imagine how much knowledge and experience the advanced students will bring to the table, enhancing our project even further.
In the end, it’s not just my project; it’s a collective effort. It’s something we will build together, so change will happen as each member brings their unique perspective.
The Pressure to Help Everyone
Another worry looming over me is my own coding ability. While I am familiar with the technologies we’ll be using—Python, Pandas, Power BI/Tableau, and other libraries—I wonder if my knowledge is sufficient. I find myself revisiting notes, watching tutorials, and studying code to ensure I’m well-prepared. But if my years as a teacher have taught me anything, it’s that you will never be fully prepared. There will always be questions or bugs I won’t solve right away. I only hope my teammates will see this as a learning opportunity rather than a weakness.
Besides the fear of making mistakes, I’m concerned about not being able to help everyone on the team. Each member brings unique talents and challenges, and I feel obligated to ensure that everyone feels supported. However, I soon realized that I couldn’t solve every problem or address every concern single-handedly. This realization led to a new fear: what if I fail to provide the guidance or resources my teammates need to succeed? Would they feel lost or unsupported? The idea of someone struggling while I stood by, unable to help, is something I refuse to let happen.
Finding a Balance
As I researched more about the project management role, I began to understand that acknowledging these fears and turning them into strengths is key to being an effective project manager. The first thing to be aware of is that it’s okay to feel scared sometimes. In fact, embracing those fears is actually a big part of growing fas a leader.
Going forward I will aim to make 3 things happen in each meeting:
- 1.It’s super important to create a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. If I am afraid of making mistakes and being judged, imagine everyone else? By making a chill environment and make sure it’s a safe space for communication, I hope that everyone will feel included and on the same page
- 2. Mistakes happen! It’s a fact of life. But instead of stressing out about them, I’ve learned to see them as learning opportunities. When things don’t go according to plan, we take a step back, get feedback, and figure out how to do things better.
- 3. Empowering my team is key. Giving people tasks that play to their strengths not only makes my job easier but also helps them feel like they’re making a real difference.
Finally, I’ve learned that I don’t have to do it alone. Talking to other leadership members and getting advice from mentors has been a lifesaver. They’ve given me the confidence to tackle challenges and reminded me that working together is the best way to succeed.
So, to anyone facing similar fears: remember, you’re not alone. Every step you take is a step toward becoming a better leader.
Learning with Data 
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