Prove That You’re Ready for a Leadership Role
Are you looking to climb the career ladder? It’s all well and good knowing the ins and outs of your work, but a higher position means more responsibility. For this, you need to show that you are a leader, but how do you show you can take control if you don’t have a leadership role? Here are five ways to show off your leadership skills without a managerial title.
Seize the Moment
Almost every group has team meetings. It is a time when the team and managerial staff get together to discuss what is happening and how to proceed with specific projects. These meetings are your chance to show just how skillful you are! Taking control in these situations with creative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking can leave a lasting impression on the people above you who will do the hiring. If they can see you take the bull by the horns in a team environment, it is a sure-fire sign that you have what it takes to cope with a managerial position.
Take Responsibility, Both Good and Bad
Managerial positions are all about responsibility. Taking control of your current role can only give a good impression to those hiring. If a new assignment is right up your alley, jump at the opportunity and volunteer your services. Of course, don’t volunteer for everything. Doing so would show you have no regard for time management! But, picking and choosing and making yourself readily available is a great way to show your readiness to further your development.
When given a task, follow it through to the end. If you’ve done a great job, commend yourself, and take the plaudits you deserve. However, if you’ve made mistakes or the project has not worked out as expected, own these as well. Great leaders take ownership of their mistakes, so rather than shifting the blame, accept and learn from the experience and move forward.
Be a Team Player
No one wants to employ a selfish manager. Businesses are all about how teams work together to tackle problems beyond the individual. Selfishly pushing yourself above your colleagues is unlikely to carry any weight with those who matter. Involve others in your work, and actively seek out those who may need your skills to develop their work. A group environment means collaboration, so the more of a team player you are, the better impression you are giving to others.
Get Involved
If you have higher aspirations than where you are now, sitting at the back of the room twiddling your thumbs during meetings is not going to help. Get involved with ideas, offer your thoughts on things you know about, and ask questions if something is not in your area. Showing an interest in every aspect of your work is sure to grab attention. Many people think that asking questions is a sign of weakness. However, nobody knows everything, and questions are a way to learn and improve ourselves; crucial qualities for anybody looking to advance in their career.
Meet Your Targets
It should go without saying that a manager needs to be reliable. No one will employ you in a leadership position if your work is late and not up to standard. Get yourself organized with a calendar, so you know your due dates, and ensure everything is complete to the best of your ability. Delivering quality work on time is essential for anyone looking to climb the career ladder.
Also, remember to say no from time to time. If you take on too much work, you will never be able to do it at the standard required. There is nothing wrong with turning down work or passing it on to someone else if you don’t think you have enough time to deal with it. Managerial positions value time management, so showing that you can say no from time to time is as important as completing the work assigned to you.
Making a step up the career ladder can be challenging, especially if you don’t feel you have the opportunity to show what you have to offer. However, there are ways that you can enhance your role within a business to show that you have leadership qualities. The key is to draw attention to the people above you who make the decisions. If they notice that you are an intelligent and conscientious worker, your chances of promotion are good.