Many of us dream of the day when we’ll become managers. Finally, a chance to be the boss, have your voice heard, and do shit the way you want to. Getting the promotion is a huge deal, and even if it’s extremely nerve-wracking, it’s also a major career milestone. But how do you actually learn to be a boss? When you step into that role, it’s unlikely you’ll have had any training, and chances are, you’re going to make some mistakes.

One way to learn how to be a good manager is to take advice from the smart women who’ve come before you. Ahead, we interview six women who told us about the mistakes they made as first-time managers, and offer advice on how you can avoid similar disasters. One thing to keep in mind as you read this, everyone messes up — even if you read this article and take every bit of advice we offer here. That’s okay. Because that’s really how you’ll learn how to be an excellent manager: by seeking advice, learning from your mistakes, and being willing to admit when you’re wrong or you need help. It might be scary, but you’ve got this.