Written by Horng Yuan | Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
According to leadership expert and best-selling author John Maxwell, leadership is influence. It is expected of you to develop influence and grow in leadership as you advance in your professional career. This is necessary because good and strong leadership is crucial to any organisation; influential leaders move their organisations forward and to greater heights.
Leadership development is an investment that should not be deemed unimportant and neglected. In fact, organisations that invest in leadership development outperform those that do not. A research by the Center of Creative Leadership has shown that leadership development is driving performance at successful organisations. These organisations enjoy improved bottom-line financial performance, attract and retain talented employees by 20 times, drive strategy execution and organisational alignment, and navigate change successfully.
Taking the Initiative to Develop as a Leader
So, how can you develop as a leader?
How can you seek a greater leadership role?
How can you learn new skills and be more competent?
What do you need to do?
The following are 5 practical things you can do and should begin with.
1. Assess and know your personality and leadership style
Socrates said, "Know thyself". In our context, it is developing self-awareness and understanding your personality and style of leading. There are numerous assessments in the market that you can use. In general, different assessments have different aims or targets. Some emphasise on personality and temperament, giving you understanding on why you behave and act the way you do; DiSC profiling and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are two popular ones. Some focus on competencies, helping you understand your strengths and weaknesses; an example is the Gallop's StrengthFinder. Some provide you with knowledge of leadership types, skills, and abilities, such as the Lead+ Leadership Facet. Spend time on these assessments and go through them honestly; learn what they have to say and discover new things about yourself. You can validate the accuracy of the results and your findings with your family members, close friends, and colleagues. To maximise your leadership ability, it is best to focus more on and be proficient in your strengths rather than spending too much time on improving your weaknesses.
2. Ask a trusted peer or colleague what you need to work on
You need a trusted person in your organisation to help you grow in your leadership. For this to effectively work, you should have a good relationship with this person. Both must be comfortable with each other, and he or she is not afraid to be honest with you. Also, you can receive from the person with an open heart, even if the truth hurts. His or her ultimate role is to help you see a complete and all-rounded picture of yourself, both your strengths and weaknesses. Many times, we fail to see what others see about us; we have blind spots that prevent us from seeing the good and the bad about ourselves. So, ask for feedback; you can apply the tips here on how to seek and act on feedback. The constructive feedback and even criticisms that you receive can give you better understanding of yourself, point to you the improvement you need to make, chart possible change of direction in your leadership journey, and boost your confidence to progress in life and work.
3. Learn new ideas and theories about leadership
We never stop learning, do we? It is important that you prioritise continuous learning, reading, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD); you can read more about CPD here. One of the biggest ways to learn and grow is to be exposed to new ideas that can cause paradigm shifts and inspire change and progress in us. With today’s technology, it is not difficult to find a good read; you can review and choose between books by philosophers and theorists, researched volumes, and those that record leadership journeys and lessons learned. You can read about lists of recommended must-reads here, here, and here. Most importantly, find books that speak a leadership language that you can understand and receive, and let them inspire you. Another way to learn is to sign up for online leadership courses; you can check out the resources available at the Institute of Leadership and Management, ILM, and Center for Creative Leadership. You can also look for leadership conferences and webinars to attend to add value to youself. As leadership is an ever-growing discipline that reinforces theories with practicalities, always strive to stretch your mind and maximise your ability to lead. Remember to be agile in your learning.
4. Serve and practise your leadership
Practice makes perfect, so play a more active role in leading through service. Identify the needs in your sphere of influence and start to serve and contribute. Note that you can serve and lead vertically and horizontally; you do not need an official title to do so. Be intentional and take the initiative to serve. Among the things you can do in your organisation are volunteering for tasks and assignments beyond your job scopes, and showing care to the people in your organisation. When you serve well, you show reliability and give positive influence to your superior, subordinates, followers, and colleagues. You also gain trust and respect, demonstrate you are a team player, develop competencies, and sharpen your leadership skills. Therefore, always keep your eyes open and look out for opportunities to contribute.
5. Communicate to your boss you are interested in developing your leadership
You communicate for the purpose of seeking support from your superior. When your superior knows of your desire for leadership and growth, he or she may open up opportunities that are available in your organisation. As you gauge your superior’s response, give time and make appropriate follow-up as needed. Bear in mind that your relationship with your superior is one that requires careful navigation; learn to handle it professionally and tactfully. Meanwhile, continue to serve and fulfil your duties and responsibilities. Always demonstrate good attitude and ask for feedback on your progress and development at the right moment.
Conclusion
It is commendable to always inspire to grow to be a better leader and person. When you incorporate these 5 steps to develop yourself at work, you will notice a change of views and attitude towards you and your leadership. You will gain influence that will benefit yourself and your organisation!
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