Taking up leadership role when you have depression
I have periodically suffered from Depression through out my life ever since I was a teenager. I have always required periods of down time in my life to deal with it. However I’m able to manage things most of the time without anyone noticing it, especially in my adult life. I have an opportunity to lead a team. I’m afraid If the depression will cause a problem. As an IC it’s easy for me to hide it, I can take a few days OOF and no one will notice it, but I wonder if it will cause a problem for my directs. A few years ago I turned down similar opportunity but now I’m having a tougher time to make a decision. I have 2 kids and have a supportive husband making it easier for me to handle things at home. Have you been in a similar issue and what did you do? I see a lot of threads here on depression but is anyone with depression a manager? I don’t want this to limit my opportunities but I also don’t want to be a bad manager.
Your depression does not make you any lesser of a person or an effective leader. I have no doubts you will be able to be a successful manager, but please do take care of yourself and get the care and attention you need so that you are able to cope with the depression so it doesn’t debilitate you like you’re describing.
This is such a great topic and I am glad you posted it. I have the same predicament. As a PM, really hard to hide depression and stress from team.
Managers tend to have better WLB. Less demand to work from home. More meetings during 9-5 then go home. You should do fine.
Are you a manager?
No, but many friends turned into ones
This is BS. Might be different at Amazon
I think it might be helpful to try and develop new coping mechanisms that are more compatible with a leadership role. Idk what that will be for you. I found it very helpful to focus my energies on getting more fit -- small successes at the gym make me feel much better about myself and help stave off depressive episodes without completely retreating into myself. That being said, I think you will do great since you are cognizant of potential weaknesses from your side. Depression is not a reason to not take on a leadership role.
Don’t make it a reason for not taking up the leadership role. If you have battled it since teenage, think of all the stages of life you have successfully dealt with and adapted to so far. You can do it this time too. Being a mother to 2 kids is a lot more difficult than managing a bunch of adults :)
I’ve never been a manager, but I have had depression. Had to take a three-month leave, one month of that in inpatient care. My manager had no clue how to deal with any of it, and she retaliated against my need for ongoing therapy, etc, and eventually fired me. My job performance wasn’t 100%, but also I hadn’t killed myself so I thought I was ahead in that equation. HR had her back even when I had proof she was fabricating events and conversations that never happened. You have two decisions, I think, before you. One is the role, and you outline the thought process above. The other is, if you go for it, does any part of that include disclosure of any kind? In my experience, disclosure is complicated, but also what I wouldn’t have given to have a manager who understood, even a little bit. It was one such manager, not in my leadership chain, who helped me realize I needed to take leave and get help. Having people with perspectives on mental health is essential, I think. But it’s also tremendously complicated. I’m not sure if that helps, but that was my experience.
Sorry to hear about what happened to you. I used to have lengthier episodes in the past, but these days I can usually come out of it in 2-3 days. I use multiple coping strategies and have developed a routine for these days which includes me staying home and practicing yoga, meditation, walks, light therapy etc. I have never disclosed this to anyone at work.
Following. In the same boat.
This post sings to me. Thanks you for sharing.
The fact that you are considering all the factors to be a good lead makes you seem like a decent empathetic person, i think you’ll do good things for the team’s long term growth. You should consider taking the opportunity, without worrying about how what happened in the past might affect you today or in the future. Good luck 😊
^ Well said, completely agree
Totally agree. OP, I am sure you have heard about or worked around many asshole managers. You will be leagues above them and your team will love you. Don't hesitate, seize the opportunity to find out what you are capable of. You don't have to be the best manager you have ever met, just like you don't aspire to be the best IC you have ever met. Btw as a backup, returning to IC is not too hard.