Have you ever dreamed of stepping up from an individual contributor role to become a team lead or manager? It's a big leap, but one that can open exciting new opportunities in your career. However, moving into a leadership role requires a shift in focus from your own tasks to guiding and supporting your team.
You'll need to develop a range of leadership skills, such as effective communication, emotional intelligence and the ability to foster a positive team environment. By honing these skills, you can become a leader who not only drives performance but also inspires and empowers your team. But how do you, as an individual contributor, gain the skills you need to succeed?
As a career coach who helps clients assess their readiness and prepare for management roles, here are my 5 strategies for unlocking your leadership potential and paving the way for your professional growth.
1. Identify your areas of growth as a leader
Self-awareness is the foundation for great leadership, and even if you're not in a formal leadership role, it's crucial to assess how well you demonstrate key leadership qualities like active listening, clear communication, emotional intelligence and fostering growth in others. Reflecting on these traits can help you become a more effective and supportive team member.
Personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs, Strengths Finder and Emotional Intelligence tests can provide insight into your preferred communication style, decision-making style and how you manage stress in difficult situations. Chatting with your coworkers is also a great opportunity to get feedback on your strengths and areas for growth. Ask for their take on your leadership style, how empathetic you are, and how you tackle tough challenges. They can help you identify blind spots you may have as a leader and provide insight into how to overcome them.
Additionally, use your annual or quarterly performance review as an opportunity to find out where you can improve. Ask what leadership competencies or skills you need more growth in. You can also work with your manager to identify strategies for building experience in these areas.
2. Take on a stretch project that gets you out of your comfort zone
Looking for a new challenge? Why not dive into a stretch project or assignment? According to Korn Ferry, stretch assignments can be some of the most valuable experiences in your career development. Search for projects that allow you to build expertise outside your usual responsibilities and increase your visibility within your organization, such as leading a new process, implementing a new software tool or launching a new project.
Before jumping in, chat with your supervisor about your interest in taking on a stretch assignment. They can help you find the right project and ensure you have the time and resources to devote to them. Once you have completed your project, don’t forget to document what you’ve learned. Update your resume and cover letter to include the new skills you’ve gained and share your project’s impact on the organization.
3. Become a leader outside of work (volunteer, serve on advisory boards, etc.)
When it comes to finding opportunities to gain leadership skills, don’t forget to look externally. For instance, volunteering is an excellent way to build visibility in your community and expand your network. To find opportunities relevant to your industry, think about what you enjoy and find organizations that align with your passions. You should also consider what skills you have or want to develop — such as oral and written communication, event planning or teaching — and search for volunteer opportunities based on these skills.
Many nonprofit organizations also seek external volunteers to serve on boards or committees. Joining a board will allow you to gain experience in strategic planning, collaborating with diverse people, program development and management. These skills are essential for a management role, as they provide you with an opportunity to understand how to build successful systems and structures that breed organizational success.
If you’re interested in joining a board, assess whether you have the time to attend meetings and events. You might also want to consider doing an informational interview with an executive director or current board members to learn about your responsibilities before committing.
4. Serve as a mentor
Managers often serve as mentors (in both formal and informal capacities) to their employees, helping them through challenges and successes in the workplace and investing in their employees’ growth in and outside the company. To get some practice in this area, consider mentoring colleagues or friends who may be younger or looking to break into your current role.
Plan time to meet with your mentees regularly and offer advice as they reach common milestones, navigate workplace challenges and engage in community or service projects. As a mentor, you’ll not only learn skills related to emotional intelligence, communication and problem-solving, but you’ll also boost your confidence in your ability to lead others.
5. Build your leadership knowledge
Any great leader will tell you one of the keys to success is never stop learning and growing. While it’s important to gain leadership and management skills through real-life experiences, knowing the theories behind processes and strategies can be helpful before you put them into action. Take a course or read a book to learn about effective leadership styles, how to manage organizational change and best practices for supporting a team and maximizing productivity.
If you want to expand your leadership and management knowledge, UWPCE’s business and leadership programs are particularly valuable. These certificates, specializations and courses offer flexible scheduling for working professionals and provide the opportunity to apply course concepts and theories to real-life business case studies and your current work, offering an opportunity for practice and reflection.
Transitioning into a leadership role can be challenging, but taking the initiative to gain experience is key. With these tips and strategies, you can ensure you’re prepared for the next step.