That nagging feeling you can’t shake—what if your next career leap isn’t up the ladder, but into leadership?

 If you’re crushing targets as a key account manager yet wondering whether leading a team aligns with who you are (or who you want to become), you’re not alone.

Maybe you’ve heard whispers about your ‘management potential’ but secretly worry you’ll trade hands-on impact for endless meetings, or fear your stellar KAM skills won’t translate to leadership success.

Let’s unpack how to distinguish ambition from authentic desire, discover low-risk ways to ‘test drive’ management before committing, and—most importantly—how to confidently choose your path, whether it’s stepping up or thriving right where you are.

Highlights

(Key insights with timestamps)

• (0:00 ) Leadership ≠ Automatic Promotion: Why excelling as a KAM doesn’t guarantee success as a leader—and the critical mindset shift needed.
• (1:52 ) Skill Audit: Brutal honesty check—do you thrive in coaching, conflict resolution, and strategic vision?
• (3:39 ) Control vs. Empowerment: Why releasing perfectionism (like obsessing over bullet points!) is non-negotiable.
• (5:23 ) Test-Drive Leadership: Volunteer for projects or mentoring before seeking the title.
• (6:24 ) Leading Former Peers: Navigate promotion awkwardness by focusing on team success, not your authority.
• (7:53 ) Voice Your Ambition: How telling your manager “I want to lead” opens doors.
• (9:26 ) Individual Contributor Paths: Why rejecting leadership isn’t failure—and how to thrive without it.

Resources

(Tools to fuel your growth)

• Leadership Readiness Assessment: Interactive self-assessment tool (KAM Club members exclusive)
• HBR’s 10 Must Reads: Curated book of Harvard Business Review’s top leadership essays
• Leading High-Performance Teams: Practical online course with video modules/workbooks
• Account Manager vs. Leader: Thought leadership article on mindset transformation

Your Next Steps

(Assess your leadership readiness)

1. Take the Leadership Readiness Assessment (KAM Club members only).
2. Volunteer for a cross-functional project to practice delegation.
3. Ask your manager: “What’s one skill I need to develop for leadership?”
4. Mentor a junior colleague—start small with monthly coffee chats.

Ready to Lead?

• Unlock leadership training: Join The KAM Club for assessments, workshops, and coaching.
• Share your leadership journey: Tag Warwick on LinkedIn (@warwickabrown) with your biggest “aha!” moment!

Your greatest strength isn’t knowing everything—it’s being brave enough to learn. 🌟🧠