Becoming part of the management team can lead to increased responsibility and no longer being part of a certain group in the workplace. But it can also lead to more freedom and interesting challenges.
Some become leaders because they have inner motivations that lead them there. Others are encouraged by others.
Here are seven tips for those who want to become leaders:
- Set goals for yourself It can be managing a project, organising a prominent event, training a new employee, getting new projects, becoming more visible to the managers in your workplace or simply becoming a leader within a certain number of years.
- Find someone who can guide you. Someone who you respect and can go to for advice and support.
- Look into courses and education opportunities. Consider what courses might prepare you for a leadership role. Could a leadership course be suitable? Could life coaching help you? Is there a new project management course for you?
- Talk to your people. Tell those closest to you about your dreams. Family, friends, and close colleagues can have valuable knowledge about you as a person and potential leader. You can use it to be aware of your good sides as well as the sides that are more challenging. But don’t be discouraged if they don’t see you as a leader.
- Practice the leadership role. Take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. It could be, for example, in parent associations, as a coach or organiser.
- Seek knowledge about leaders. Read books on leadership, discuss the role of leaders with your colleagues, monitor managerial vacancies, consider what leadership means to you.
- Seize the opportunity.
This is what makes a good leader
A good leader possesses various personal and professional qualities.
A good leader:
- Has integrity
- Is good at compromising
- Focuses on the person
- Is prescient
- Is interested
- Makes decisions
- Is involved
- Leads by example
- Inspires their staff
- Is an expert
- Is brave
- Pros and cons
In a leadership role, you can influence how you prioritise your work. Despite the fact that most managers have a normal working week, there is a great demand to do a good job and be available.
Here are three things you should consider before applying for a leadership role:
What to expect from a leadership role?
- Increased responsibility
- More influence
- Flexibility in your workday
- Opportunity to control the organisation of the day
What could you lose?
- The specialist role. As a manager, your tasks are more general, i.e. you have to motivate and create success through others.
- Time off outside working hours. As a manager, you may be at risk of getting a phone call at night in case of emergencies. It is your job to make sure everything works out. Others make that demand of you that may affect your free time.
- Being a part of a group. Going from being a co-worker to becoming a manager can be difficult if you were previously “one of the group”. As a leader, you need to be able to make decisions that could have negative consequences for others.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What qualities do you have that could be useful in a leadership role?
- What qualities could be a challenge for you in a leadership role?