Becoming a Leader at Work

As you climb the career ladder, you will be required to take on positions of responsibility and become tomorrow’s leader. Businesses depend on the hierarchical guidance of certain individuals to steer the mission ship and guarantee that progress remains plain sailing. And yet, whilst many millennials dream of being the most senior executive at their current company, 63% say that their relevant skills are not being fully developed. So the nub of the matter is, what does it take to become an effective leader?

Take responsibility

If you wish to move your career forward, fulfilling your current job expectations and daily duties is the top priority. Take responsibility for your work and aim to go above and beyond. Going the extra mile will leave a good impression on higher management, which is especially important because they determine your progression.

Once you’ve completed your own project, assist a colleague within your team. If your boss can see that you’re comfortable taking on responsibilities, you’ll be the right person for a leadership role. In fact, some companies have mentor schemes, by which you can nurture a new recruit. Taking someone under your wing and guiding them through their first few months will also significantly enhance your time management and interpersonal abilities.


Be innovative

Standing out from your colleagues through inventiveness and problem-solving will put you in good stead at the office. When working with a team, natural leaders introduce new ideas and methods in order to achieve the company’s goals. For instance, organise a daily huddle (stand together in a circle) at the start of the day and outline the objectives of each individual. It’s a more energetic approach and hopefully a more productive one too.


Versatility and resilience

All trailblazers will come up against difficulties in the workplace. If the going gets tough, don’t give in or doubt yourself. If you’ve been given a position of responsibility, you’re more than capable of leading your team through adversity. Good leaders can identify when something isn’t working; excellent leaders know how to rectify what’s going wrong and direct the team down a winning path.


Understand employee concerns

By definition, leaders don’t complete projects alone. Rather, they take the initiative and run a successful team in order to carry out tasks and exceed quotas. As such, always remember to be open and consider the other opinions on the table. A thriving office is one that offers a platform for a variety of different viewpoints and perspectives.
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This list is not exhaustive, so we’d love to hear your thoughts. If you have any questions or tips, please post them in the comments section below.