What I Wish I Knew When I First Promoted

When I first promoted into a leadership role in policing, I thought I had it figured out. After all, I had mastered the technical side: the tactics, the reports, the investigations. I knew the law, I could make an arrest, I could work a scene. But what I didn’t know then was that the skillset that got me there wasn’t the same skillset I needed to lead.

Leadership wasn’t about being the best cop in the room. It was about helping others become their best. It was about relationships, not reports. Influence, not authority. Listening more than speaking.

And yet, as I stepped into that new rank, there was another voice that came with me…the voice of doubt. Maybe you’ve heard it too. The one that whispers, “What if you’re not ready? What if they find out you don’t belong here?” That voice was loud at first. But over time, I learned how to turn the volume down. I reminded myself that I was promoted for a reason. That the qualities that got me there: curiosity, empathy, grit, still mattered. In fact, they mattered even more now.

I leaned into mentors and coaches, soaking up their wisdom and observing their styles. Each of them gave me something: tools, perspectives, encouragement. But I also learned this: leadership isn’t cosplay. You can’t lead in someone else’s voice forever. The most powerful leaders I’ve known weren’t perfect copies of someone else. They were unapologetically themselves. It took time, but I eventually found comfort in my own skin. I stopped trying to “sound like a leader” and focused on being one, grounded in values, humble enough to keep learning, and present enough to make others feel seen.

One of the biggest surprises was how much I found myself learning from outside the walls of policing. The higher I promoted, the more my work became about partnerships, communities, other agencies, other disciplines. That’s when I really started consuming leadership material from outside our profession. I learned about the power of purpose. I embraced vulnerability and courage. From business leaders, coaches, and nonprofit executives, I saw how human-centered leadership transcends titles and sectors.

At The Curve, we say that leadership isn’t a rank: it’s a responsibility. And the work starts from within. That’s the lesson I wish I’d fully understood when I first pinned on the stripes, bars, and stars. It’s not about knowing everything. It’s about showing up, being real, and growing forward, every single day.

To those newly promoted or aspiring to lead: trust your character more than your résumé. Seek mentors, but don’t lose your own voice. And know that leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.

You belong here. Even if that voice of doubt still shows up sometimes . . . so does mine. Learn to turn the volume down.

Chris Hsiung is the Executive Director of The Curve, a nonprofit co-founded with Simon Sinek and chiefs and sheriffs to inspire leadership development and modernize police culture. He previously served as Undersheriff of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and retired as the Police Chief of the Mountain View Police Department, dedicating over 35 years to public service.