The prospect of advancing to the top of one’s field makes it possible for many people to keep plugging away at their jobs, honing their skills, and taking on new projects. But after a certain point, career development depends on more than technical skills and a willingness to work hard. You also need a few soft skills, not the least of which is the ability to take on a leadership role.
Some people are natural leaders, but anyone can develop the skill set needed with some practice. If you want to take your career as far as possible, you must be willing to put in the work.
In this article, we’ll present nine ways to develop leadership skills, including communication, delegation, and goal-setting. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your leadership abilities and take your career to the next level.
1. Practice Discipline
A good leader needs discipline. Developing discipline in your professional (and personal) life is a must to be an effective leader and inspire others to be disciplined as well. People will judge your capacity to lead by the amount of discipline you display at work. A Forbes article highlights the importance of discipline in effective leadership.
2. Take on More Projects
A great way to develop your leadership skills is to take on more responsibility. You don’t have to take on more than you can handle, but you need to do more than simply what’s covered in your job description if you want to grow. Stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way you will learn anything new, and doing so will get you noticed by executives as someone who takes initiative. A piece on Inc.com discusses the value of taking on more projects for leadership development.
3. Learn to Follow
A true leader has no problem yielding control to another person when appropriate. You should not feel threatened when someone disagrees with you, questions your thinking, or puts forth their own ideas. Keep an open mind and give merit where merit is due. It won’t always be easy, but if you learn to value and respect others on your team, they’ll be more likely to step up to the plate for you. The McKinsey & Company provides insights on the importance of humility and learning to follow in leadership.
4. Develop situational awareness
A mark of a good leader is someone who can see the bigger picture and anticipate problems before they occur. This is a valuable skill to have when handling complex projects with tight deadlines. The ability to foresee and provide suggestions for avoiding potential problems is invaluable for a leader. This ability also helps you recognize opportunities that others overlook, which will certainly earn you recognition. This can be especially difficult to develop when leading remote teams, but with practice, you can become more attuned to your teams and projects. A Harvard Business Review article offers tips for improving strategic thinking and situational awareness.
5. Inspire Others
Being a leader means you are part of a team, and as a leader, you should be able to motivate and inspire those you work with to collaborate as best they can. When a team member needs encouragement or guidance, offer it. Sometimes, all a person needs is someone to listen and be sympathetic. A Forbes article shares powerful ways to inspire your team.
6. Keep Learning
The best path to becoming a good leader is to be open to learning new things. It keeps your mind sharp and your skills fresh. It primes you for new challenges that may come your way, which is always a good thing for a leader. A piece on Entrepreneur.com emphasizes the importance of continuous learning in leadership.
7. Empower Your Teammates
No one is the best at everything, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you can learn to be a good leader. Delegating tasks to others not only frees you up for things you do well but also empowers other people on your team. The Inc.com offers eight tips for effective delegation and empowering your team.
8. Resolve Conflicts
Don’t be a manager from hell! Not everyone will get along all the time. Instead of ignoring interpersonal conflicts and hoping they will go away, address them by talking to those involved privately. Also, be open to reassigning team members if the conflict can’t be resolved. A piece on the American Management Association offers tips for managers on resolving employee conflicts.
9. Be a Discerning Listener
Becoming a leader doesn’t mean you always have to be in the spotlight. An important trait of a good leader is someone who listens to suggestions, ideas, and feedback from other people and builds on them. Good listeners know that communication is not only about words but picking up on non-verbal cues, such as eye contact and body language. A Fast Company article provides seven ways to be a better listener.
Don’t be complacent. Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to improve. Remember, the more work you do, the more you are learning. Learning more and taking on more responsibility will eventually help move you into a leadership role at your workplace.
Also, others will more easily accept you as a leader when that day comes because you will have established a track record of taking the initiative, being a student of learning, and using that newfound knowledge for making improvements.