Learning to Lead Before You’re Management

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Learning to Lead Before You’re Management

It can be difficult to watch your fellow coworkers receive promotions and be given supervising or management roles while you haven’t changed positions. If you feel like you’re a good candidate for the next leadership role, maybe you just need some help showing that to the bosses.

Be as Helpful as Possible

There are three additional points to this one:

  • Be Dependable
  • Be Timely
  • Be Friendly

Dependability

A leader should always be dependable. When you’re given a task, or promise to complete a project, do so to the fullest extent of your ability. Be a dependable source of high quality work. Put forth the effort in noticeable ways.

Timeliness

Never miss a deadline, in fact, give yourself artificial early deadlines. If you want to be a strong candidate for leadership, being on time is on longer acceptable. Make it a point to finish all your work early. Consider it prepping for last minute emergencies or unseen contingencies.

Friendliness

Be friendly with everyone in the office, regardless of your true opinions of them. A manager shouldn’t show favoritism or dislike of their employees, so act like you can’t right now. Make an effort to get to know and help the new people too. It’s hard to be a new employee, do everything you can to make it easier on them. Also, offer to lend a hand anywhere you can. Make yourself the go-to person for questions and clarification. Your manager will appreciate the help and will notice the initiative.

Prioritize to the Big Picture

Leadership isn’t about the authority, or maybe I should say that good leadership isn’t about authority. Good leaders keep everyone on track and set the right goals. To get in this mindset now, start prioritizing the big picture goals of the company over the immediate day-to-day things. This will shift your mentality about work and have you thinking long-term. Show your company that you intend to stick around and be an asset to the team.

Take on New Challenges

The natural next step from shifting your mindset to the big picture is taking steps towards it. Challenge yourself to think of missed opportunities or ways to reach goals sooner. If you find an idea, go for it. No more pitching ideas and hoping someone else carries them out, that’s on you now. If a volunteer is needed for a new project, raise your hand first. Be enthusiastic about new challenges. This means you can’t wait until no one else has volunteered before you accept it, you have to be among the first. Show your manager that you’re ready to take on more.

If you can prove to your company that you’re helpful, you set the right priorities, and you’re ready to take on new challenges you’ll push yourself closer to being a designated leader. Next time that door opens up, your name could be on that list for promotion. Don’t let the opportunity pass you up because you weren’t willing to put in the hard work until it was necessary.

If your team is in need of employees that are focused on the long-term success of your company, give us a call. We focus on placing candidates in positions they are excited about and want to be in for the long haul. Lower your turnover rates and increase your culture’s positivity. Reach out to us today!