I have a friend that is waiting to be promoted. He's smart, works hard, has innovative ideas, and makes a difference to the bottom line. Unfortunately, he's been waiting for a long time.
The problem? He has limited self-awareness of his personal leadership skills. He sees himself as smarter and more creative than almost everyone else in the organization. He's viewed as a smart, pompous, aggressive know-it-all by almost everyone at work. He wants a title that shows the world that he's a leader. Truth is he, like you, can lead right from where you are today.
It's great when the world validates you as a leader through a promotion (or winning a big election). Still, win or lose, promotion or no promotion, you can't let that stop you from letting the leader within you continue to shine through. Never forget, leadership is about more than a title!
Stop waiting for your next promotion - here are five ways to lead and inspire from where you are.
1 Be Curious: Everyone looks to leaders for the answers. When you ask questions, it stretches people to think and be creative. It also shows them that everyone is accountable for solutions. Your curiosity is fulfilling one of your top leadership responsibilities: Growing the next generation of leaders.
2 Listen: Listening is more than hearing the words that someone is speaking. It's reading the energy, emotion and hearing the unspoken. Resist the urge to fill the silence and give people the space to discover what's next. Great leaders know that when they listen more and speak less their opportunity to learn goes through the roof.
3 Play "Yes And": When you hear a new idea, shooting it down not only kills the concept but also lowers engagement, stymies creativity and makes people less likely to contribute new ideas in the future. Play "yes and" instead and see where it takes you. "Yes and" builds on ideas and makes them bigger and usually leads to surprising places.
4 Recognize Contribution: Catch people doing things right! Let people know that their effort and ideas are important and making a difference. Best practice is to be specific and timely with your accolades. People want to be seen and to be valued - never let an opportunity slip by to let them know that they matter.
5 Laugh: You don't have to be serious 100% of the time - you just have to be you! Make a joke, laugh! Show people who you are and they'll respond to your authenticity and humanity.
There are winners and there are losers in every race. The real leadership skill isn't in the winning or the losing; it's continuing to move forward to make a difference.
Make a choice to consciously practice these leadership skills and you'll find that, title or not, you're making a difference and creating a powerful personal leadership legacy.
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