HBR On Leadership Making the Shift from Individual Contributor to Leader
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Apr 22, 2026 
Muriel Wilkins, leadership development expert and coach on executive presence, shares guidance on shifting from individual contributor to leader. She discusses the awkward growth phase, concrete communication moves to be seen as a leader, balancing leading with learning, and how to build visibility and trust—especially in remote settings.
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Use Homegrown Status As An Asset Not A Trap
- Being 'homegrown' is an advantage if you update others on your growth and leverage institutional knowledge, but watch for cues of stagnation.
- Amy Su advises negotiating conditions for success and, if stagnating, exploring market opportunities outside the company.
Negotiate Conditions Before Accepting Promotion
- Negotiate role conditions before accepting promotions to be set up for success, including explicit boss support when former peers become direct reports.
- Amy Su counsels asking for manager backing to smooth transitions and asserting you're 'lucky to have me' not the reverse.
Decide By Asking Can I And Do I Want To
- Ask yourself two questions before pursuing leadership: 'Can I do it?' and 'Do I want to do it?'.
- Muriel Wilkins recommends evaluating a 3–5 year horizon and not choosing leadership out of fear or external 'shoulds'.
