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When founders and CEOs look to hire and promote managers, they want people who exhibit leadership. But how can you exhibit leadership if you don't currently have anyone reporting to you, or even have any high-profile projects to manage?
Good news is, leader isn’t a title, it’s a group of characteristics, and you can absolutely acquire them, even if you’re not - currently - the boss.
Here are 10 ideas:
1. Communicate clearly. Leaders don’t grumble behind closed doors when things don’t go their way. They don’t say yes when they should have said no. They say what they mean, and they do so in a way that people understand. This is not advocating rudeness; simply be clear and concise and make an effort to drop anything that could be interpreted as passive-aggressive behaviour.
2. Be flexible. There’s rarely ever only one way to do something, and by insisting that things are done your way, you’re headed down the micromanager path, and that’s not what leadership is about. Ask yourself, “Is this the wrong way to do it, or is it just a different way?”
3. Know your worth. There's no need be rude, but leaders stand up for themselves, politely. If somebody interrupts you in a meeting, simply say, “I’m sorry, can I finish?” If a co-worker tries to delegate work you know you don't have the capacity for, say, “I'm afraid that won’t be possible.” Does this mean you never do a favour? Absolutely not. You do favours when you are able to, and when it is mutually beneficial, not because you don't feel able to say "no."
4. Help others. Leaders bring others along with them, and share credit for work well done. Leaders don’t look for opportunities to step on others, but rather look for ways to help others succeed alongside them. Remember, a leader is someone who demonstrates the desire to enable others to prosper.
5. Take responsibility for your mistakes. We all make mistakes, so own them. When someone points out an error, rather than throwing blame, simply say, “Thanks for letting me know, I can fix that.” Additionally, when things start going south, ask for help rather than panicking and trying to fix everything on your own, which can often make it worse.
6. Listen to others’ ideas. You may be bursting with ideas and can’t wait until it’s your turn to speak, but take time to listen to others. Other people have great ideas too, and a true leader acknowledges that good things can come from many sources. Don’t cut people off. Do solicit ideas. You may be surprised at what you learn, and who you can collaborate with.
7. Take risks. A lot of the time, people think leaders have led charmed lives with no real struggles or failures. This is rarely the case. Failure and risk are an integral part of success. When you can acknowledge that the risks are real, but that the potential payoff is enough to justify that, you’re demonstrating leadership. If you jump blindly, that’s irresponsible. But if you evaluate the situation and take the risk anyway, that’s leadership.
8. Remember to network. Networking isn’t just about finding jobs, it’s about connecting with people. By doing so, you’ll learn how to make your networking conversations more effective, and to define the skills and experience you can offer others, as well as asking others if they have attributes that can help to support you. By building yourself a network of experienced peers, and offering your support to them in turn, you’re demonstrating your ability to connect and to guide.
9. Develop your self-confidence. There will be times when discrimination and unjust behaviour occurs, and that is absolutely a case for HR. For everything else - office politics, colleagues that communicate and collaborate poorly, or any other behaviour that tests your values - by being self-confident and knowing that you hold your own behaviour to a higher standard, it can help you not to become jaded or unmotivated by the actions of those around you.
10. Get stuck in. There's no shortcut to success and no perfect time to start 'becoming' a leader. You can get where you want to go, but it comes by working smarter, building better relationships, and developing yourself along the way. Absolutely ask for a raise or a promotion when you've got the experience or workload to justify it, but in the meantime, you can exhibit just how perfect you are for your next role whilst still in your current one.
