6 Ways to Up Your Leadership Skills at Work
Are you looking to step up at work and showcase greater leadership skills, but need a little help in doing so? Or, maybe you are currently in a management role and are looking for ways to be even better. Regardless of how you currently rank at work, there are plenty of ways to boost your leadership skills.
1. Offer to Help
Being a leader often involves putting others before yourself. Even if you have a lengthy to-do list, if a problem arises and someone needs your help, it is your job to solve the problem. Even if you don’t have a superior title, you can always offer to help and see if there is anything you can do to make someone’s workload a little lighter. This type of attitude will serve you well as a leader and as a team player.
2. Branch Outside of Your Department
True leaders work with many different lines of business in their roles. You will need to know how to work cross-functionally and communicate with other teams and departments who may not speak your work language. Whether you are in a leadership role currently or not, you can still network and get to know other people outside of your immediate team to learn more about what they do and how this can help you in your career.
3. Listen
While leaders typically delegate and inspire, they also listen. Next time you are in a meeting, really focus and listen to everything being said before you give your opinion. Ask great questions and don’t just speak for the sake of speaking. Don’t feel pressured to be constantly talking in every meeting — also take the time to listen carefully.
4. Be Encouraging
A leader should be a source of light in the office. Be encouraging and think positively. As a leader, your confidence and attitude will effect everyone on the team. If a colleague is feeling iffy about a project or situation, step up and let them know that you are there to support and give them positive thoughts about it.
5. Know Your Strengths
Even the best leader will not be perfect, simply because they’re human. One quality that a strong leader possesses is that they know their strong suits. They ask themselves questions like:
- Are there common themes when it comes to the projects and tasks I enjoy?
- What projects are the most intimidating?
- What projects are the most enjoyable?
- Do I have the same feedback on a lot of projects?
Answering these kinds of questions can help anyone get a solid hold on what their strengths and weaknesses are and how to both play up strengths and work on the weaknesses.
6. Ask for Feedback
Asking for constructive feedback can help craft you into a leader. In your next one-on-one with your boss, ask about areas they have noticed you could improve on. Not only will this help you perform better at work, but you can learn from this kind of interaction for when you are the leader and you have someone soliciting feedback from you.
