If you’re not a leader yet, then that’s ok. Maybe you don’t have the title of “leader” or maybe you are trying to become one within your organization. Either way, this article is for you! Being a leader doesn’t mean that someone has to hold an organizational leadership position in order to be considered as such. These days employers seek out people who are leaders no matter what level they may be at in the company hierarchy.
So no matter who you are or what business you’re into, being a leader will serve you well. You might not be the one calling the shots(yet), but you will become better at your job and more respected by others. You become someone who can be counted on when times get tough.
Always be on time
Those late to the party are the ones that always miss something good. As an aspiring leader, you cannot afford to miss ANYTHING, ever. So no matter the occasion you always need to be early or at least on time.
Not only will this ensure that you don’t miss anything, but it will also show that you are a responsible, reliable person. This will be of huge benefit to the person in charge. You will also be acknowledged as someone who can be trusted to get things done.
Yes, being on on time will also help you to be more productive. Leaders must be able to get their work done and help or guide others if necessary. You won’t be in the position to do this if you’re always scrambling around to get your work done.
Be proactive – don’t wait for your boss to tell you what to do
To be clear, being proactive does not mean you will be presumptuous or overstep the boundaries of your position.
Being proactive simply means that you anticipate what needs to be done and take care of it before anyone else even realizes there was something left undone or incomplete. This will become apparent when the person in charge sees how much work is getting done with less effort on his/her part, which also leads to more time and energy for their own work.
You do need to use your discretion and common sense here though. This doesn’t mean that you should ALWAYS just go ahead and do whatever is on your mind no matter the case. You also have to keep in mind how the person in charge likes things to be done. Perhaps this person wants you to let them know about any and every problem. So your hands are tied, right? Wrong. An easy way around this is going to the person in charge and let them know what the problem is AS WELL AS a solution you had in mind.
Take responsibility for your own actions and mistakes
Especially when working with a team, and a mistake might not be one person’s fault, it can be easy to not openly acknowledge where you went wrong. However, this can become a huge problem in the long run. When you take responsibility for your own actions and mistakes it shows that you are accountable–you have integrity.
No matter how small or big your mistake is, you need to own up to it. If a person in charge sees that you’re not taking responsibility for something then they will become apathetic towards giving another chance if there’s a problem later on.
Taking responsibility also means taking an active role to correct any damages done if indeed there were any damage caused.
Even though this might be uncomfortable at first the end result is worth it. All good leaders own up to any mistake they made, accept any repercussions, and they never try to find someone to blame. In the end, you will be viewed as a leader–someone who is dependable, someone to be trusted.
Ask questions when you’re confused about something
You don’t know everything, and you will never know everything. Even if you work in a high-pressure environment, asking a bunch of questions is much better than messing something up because you didn’t.
If your boss isn’t paying attention or seems unapproachable then asking another co-worker is the next best thing. Especially if you work with highly experienced people, it is possible that they might be able to shed some light on the subject and give you guidance as well as their own insight even if your question does not relate to anything they do.
This also shows that you are someone who is willing to learn and become better at what you do. Even leaders in leadership positions need to master asking questions. And although there are no stupid questions, learning to ask the RIGHT questions is a skill.
Make sure that the people around you are happy with their work, or find a new job if they aren’t
We become like the people we surround ourselves with. So although your coworkers might not affect your personality outside the office, they will most definitely affect your personality inside the office.
There is no perfect workplace. But if everyone is unhappy with their work and there’s a general spirit of gloom and doom, perhaps it’s high time you find a new job.
BUT your leaving is not the only option there is. You can also be the one to help everyone in the office keep in good spirits. Happiness and positivity are contagious. If you have the right attitude toward your work and you openly maintain a positive outlook; it can rub off on your coworkers. You can also help by making sure you don’t do anything to contribute to any one of your coworkers’ discontent.
If some are having an especially hard time at work, and it’s not completely inappropriate for you to give them a suggestion or two, you can be the one who helps them brainstorm and become better at what they do. OR you can help them find a new job if necessary.
Lead by example – make it clear what is expected of others by doing whatever needs to be done first yourself
The best way to become a leader is by leading others. And you don’t need to hold a leadership position in order to lead others. All you need to do is be the representation of how things should be done. People will then naturally use you as a reference for how to get things done and become better at their own jobs. They might observe how you do things, or come to you directly when in need of guidance.
This doesn’t just apply to the quality of your work. It applies to EVERYTHING that being at your workplace involves. Your attitude, your punctuality, your communication skills, etc, must all be of the highest standard.
Conclusion
Leadership is a tough skill to master, and it can be even tougher if you’ve never been in charge of anything before. Whether you are new to the workforce or have been at your company for years, there will always be things that come up where you need to take on a leadership role. Here are some guidelines about how to become an effective leader in any workplace environment: Be proactive – don’t wait for your boss to tell you what needs doing next; make sure all tasks get completed by reporting back with updates regularly Keep track of projects personally- write down each task so everyone knows who’s responsible Ask questions when something feels off Make time every day for personal reflection Lead by example – make it clear what is