No matter your field, you’re going to need to take initiative to advance your career. With that being said, becoming a better leader is more difficult than it sounds. Here are three of the best ways you can develop leadership skills.
Receive Professional Training
Struggling to develop the skills and confidence to step up to the plate in the first place? It might be worthwhile for you to try leadership training. A professional coach will lead you through exactly how you should be managing your own time and energy, guiding you toward the right way to take control of your work. It’s important to do your own research and find a leadership instructor who’s right for you. For example, if you’re looking specifically for expertise in entrepreneurship, you’ll want to find someone who understands the challenges of being an entrepreneur, perhaps someone with experience in that space.
Mentorship of this type is a great option especially if you’re more of a hands-on learner, as you’ll be able to learn through customized resources, teachings and conversations.
Take On More Responsibility
Even if you’re not yet in your ideal position, showing more initiative in your current position is a great way to practice leadership skills. This can involve anything from asking your supervisor for more projects to going out of your way to interact with members of other teams for a more cross-functional experience. Just doing the work assigned to you might be simple, but it won’t help you learn.
Step out of your comfort zone now and you’ll find it easier to push yourself more in the future when the opportunity arises for you to get noticed. At best, taking on more responsibility can help you get noticed by senior leaders; at worst, it will help you practice your communication and leadership skills in the moment.
Teach Yourself
Do your own research. Find podcasts, blogs and newsletters about leadership that inspire you. Good leaders don’t dwell in their comfort zones at the expense of learning, and you shouldn’t either. Keep an eye out for industry trends as well. Only by staying well-informed about what’s going on in your space will you be able to elevate your projects. Staying knowledgable is essential to helping you grow.
You won’t be able to develop as a leader without developing the habits of a leader first. Step up, take initiative, and you’ll start your transformation into a leader soon enough.
