One way to become a leader is to work harder and more efficiently than others. This is often effective, but it can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction because, in essence, you are running on a hamster wheel.
Instead, you can approach your leadership development strategically, so you can take advantage of opportunities when they come your way.
In Leap to Leadership, we take this latter approach because it is sustainable, enlightening and enriching.
There are five stages or steps in the process, and each can (and should be) revisited as things change for you.
Step 1: Self-knowledge
To grow and develop, you need to take stock of yourself. That means understanding yourself. What are your deep-seated values? What are you skilled at doing? What skills do you need to acquire? What do you love to do? What do others tell you about yourself?
Be honest with yourself as you answer these questions. Sometimes the answers will take you in a direction that is different from what you originally thought.
Step 2: Pace yourself
Are you spending your time wisely? Are you taking time for family and friends as well as work? Are you working on things that will move you forward? Are you taking on tasks that others could do so that you have more free time to pursue what’s important to you? Are you excited and engaged by what you are doing?
If you aren’t spending your time wisely in activities that move you forward toward your goal of leadership, look for ways to gain that time.
In the process, don’t lose yourself or ignore the people who love you. Refer to your core values and make sure what you are doing is consistent with them. If there is a mismatch, it will cause anxiety and stress which will set you back instead of moving you forward.
Step 3: Focus
With a clear understanding of yourself and how you are spending your time, you can begin to focus on what is important for your future self. Ideally, pick three and no more than five areas of focus for yourself. For example:
- Personal fitness
- Quality time to relax
- Technical skill or professional designation acquisition
Once you have your focus areas, you can create a tactical plan to move you ahead on your goals in each.
Step 4: Grow your network
If your network is limited to the people you see on Zoom each day, the chances of you learning about or being given opportunities for growth are next to nil. There are many ways to do this. You can get a mentor, join a new team at work or elsewhere, go to school, or take advantage of professional associations or community groups. The more people who know you and your skills, abilities, and aspirations, the more likely it is that you will learn about opportunities.
Step 5: Be present
You have a choice about how you present yourself. This is especially true in meetings and events. Go to these events with an objective and measure your results. If you are presenting to a group, know why you are there and what you want from the group. After the meeting, determine whether you met your goal and how you might do it better the next time.
Leadership is a journey. There will be delays and side trips along the way. If you know yourself, manage your energy, focus, and engage meaningfully with others, your journey will be meaningful and rewarding.
Develop your leadership skills in strategically with our Leap to Leadership program.
