> mention in passing about an year ago about how I need to speak up in meetings [...] I think I don't know how to be a leader at a workplace It sounds like at

> mention in passing about an year ago about how I need to speak up in meetings [...] I think I don't know how to be a leader at a workplace It sounds like at the very least your boss doesn't know how to be a leader in the workplace either: if you have a shortcoming which is impacting the way you are perceived by your leadership team, or your job performance, then it is incumbent on leadership to: 1/ Help you understand the deficiency and determine whether it's real, or optical (for example: "I see John coming in late all the time! That guy is really lazy!" vs. "Wow, John comes in late and leaves early but he's SO productive when he's here!") 2/ Provide you with clear practical steps you can take to improve, and what the impact of you improving will be (on you, on the business) 3/ A clear expectation on what the consequences will be if you do not improve (is it just "you're gonna be a midweight forever dude", or "the skills you lack are vital for this job"). Most people have a cap on where their natural intuition and instinct can take them as leaders. Going beyond that requires coaching, mentoring, and training. If you were hired into a leadership role but can't lead, then it's a deficiency of their hiring process. If you were hired as an individual contributor (IC) and are being expected to lead, then you need coaching. Do not accept the part of your brain which is telling you that this is on you. If you were fired because you can't lead then that's terrible leadership in and of itself. Find somewhere with a strong engineering culture and great leadership. Be open that you are worried about being stuck in Individual Contributor land forever and that as part of your development, you want to receive coaching from a leader who can help you adopt a leadership mindset. Make it clear this is not about promotions, titles, or pay grades: you want to understand leadership and have regular conversations with someone who is leading. You do not need to be humbled.