Have you taken on something where you felt completely out of your depth and it has worked out ok??

[confusedlots]

I've been asked to take on a really high level role in work, taking responsibility for overseeing a really important part of the company. I was pretty surprised to be asked and did mention that I didn't feel I had as much experience in that area as the previous person who held the role, but was told that they have every confidence in me and that they feel I'll be very well suited to the role.

It's a fantastic experience both in terms of learning new skills and to have on my CV, and I'm really honoured to be asked when there are people who have been in a similar role as me for many more years who haven't been considered for it. But I'm terrified I'm going to mess it up and that it will be clear I don't completely know what I'm doing when i have to take the lead.

Please someone reassure me that they've been in a similar situation and it's all worked out ok. I'm feeling a bit terrified right now!

What a great commendation of your ability to be recognised by the higher ups, well done 👏

It's happened twice to me but I doubt at your level. First instance was from my boss, 3 years ago, he recommended me to a contractor he works alongside to do the same support role, I was terrified that I was taking too much on but between the 2 (similiar) roles I work full time and I really feel like it's been the making of me.

My second is coaching my sons football team. They were ready to fold as their coach had to leave, I stepped in to the admin role and was so worried it was too much alongside the above work (plus 2 other kids), but we're now on our way into our second season.

Sometimes you don't know til you try.

Every job I have ever had, from internships and summer jobs in high school to my first jobs out of professional qualifications I have felt like this. I've been replacing far more experienced and qualified people as they move up the ladder themselves.

I rationalised it this way: (1) even people who have worked at a job for 20+ years make mistakes (see: Enron, the financial crisis, etc etc), so experience doesn't immunise you from mistakes; and (2) men apply for jobs where they only fulfil some of the requirements, women tend to wait to apply until they tick every box on the prerequisites. So be more like a man!

And finally - everyone has to gain experience somehow. By definition you will have less experience than the last person because you've never done it before! So where are you supposed to get that experience if not on the job? In almost every job, no matter what prior experience you have, you generally reach your full effectiveness about 2 years in, so any mistakes before that are just part of ramping up.

Go for it! You'll be amazing at it - in time. And you can't learn without making a few mistakes! Key thing is to own up to mistakes straight away and learn from them, everyone expects a new person to make mistakes.

Sorry I didn't come back to this post, I was seriously doubting my ability to do the role and was going back and forth in my head as to what to do. But I led my first meeting this week with some really senior people in the company, and although I was kicking myself afterwards that there were a couple of things I wasn't completely sure of, I think it went ok for a first meeting and I'm feeling a bit more confident that I can do this with a bit of work and effort. I'm now feeling more excited for the challenge!