Question

• What are the experiences you need to develop your leadership?

Answer 1

Taking Initiative

Most bosses will assign their employees tasks that the employees have proven to be adept at. Therefore, don't wait to take on more responsibilities. Go above and beyond at your current position. A good way to develop your skills is to take on extra projects outside of your job description.

Remember, the more work you do, the more you are learning. Learning more and taking on more responsibility can help move you into a leadership role in your workplace.

Critical Thinking

To be hired for a high-profile job, you will need to be a critical thinker. Good leaders are able to foresee potential problems before they happen. They can then develop ways to prevent the problems from happening.

Good leaders are also aware of potential opportunities and take advantage of them to benefit the company and employees.

Listening Effectively

One of the most important skills for a leader is listening. Without listening skills, you are not able to get feedback from others and get a sense of what team members like about the projects they work on.

Feedback is key. To listen effectively, you need to maintain eye contact, avoid distractions and respond appropriately. Keep in mind, communication is not just about verbal communication. Be aware of body language and gestures to determine what people are really saying.

Motivate Others

John Quincy Adams famously said: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

A true leader should positively influence people. When employees or coworkers lose their ambitions and passions, a true leader can energize and motivate them. How do leaders motivate people? First, they know what people need and want. For example, if an employee loses motivation because he or she thinks his or her hard work is not being recognized, a good leader will talk to that person and offer the recognition that is deserved.

Sometimes, people lose their motivation because they are facing difficulties, tired of doing the same repetitive tasks or disappointed they are not being asked to get involved. As a leader, you should talk to the employee, ask him or her what's going on, and share your personal stories to encourage the employee to get involved.

Discipline

Discipline is required in order to execute the goal. Even if you have a vision or a good idea, it's useless without discipline. If you want to execute effectively, you need discipline.

Constant Learning

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other," said John F. Kennedy. When things are changing rapidly, it is important to constantly learn and challenge yourself.

Know How to Delegate

According to Theodore Roosevelt, "the best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."

A successful leader won't micromanage. Delegate work to your employees and let them feel empowered. If you do this, they will feel more involved and have more opportunity to develop new skills. Delegating will allow you to concentrate on the goals you need to achieve yourself. If you are a project leader, you are still responsible for the work in the end. This is why it is important to oversee the project when delegating.

Handling Conflicts

Leaders have to know how to handle difficult people and resolve conflicts. If an employee doesn't work to the best of his or her ability and brings a negative attitude to work, leaders have to step up and talk to that person in private.

Be a Follower

Leaders should learn to recognize the value of team members, learn from them, and encourage other team members to learn from them. Learn things that you didn't know from a person who specializes in that area.

The Bottom Line

Good leadership skills are essential to career development. "The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority," said Ken Blanchard. If you want to improve your leadership skills, think about what actions you can take to be more influential. If you are already a leader