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Would you like to advance at your current company and eventually fill a leadership position? If yes, then be sure to work on these four essential traits:
Make a dedicated commitment to professional (and personal) development. – It may seem like a daunting task, but try to ask for work that’s challenging or takes you outside of your comfort zone. This will not only show existing leaders that you are willing to do more than you were hired to do, but will also show that you’re willing to learn new things. Try asking for constructive criticism from management and use their input to improve your work. Should they offer you compliments, learn how to take them without boasting and use them as an example of what you can offer to the company in the future.
Contribute beyond your job description. – When you fully understand your business and are up-to-date with all of the latest information, you become the go-to person for questions and concerns. This knowledge is power and can give you an insight into how individual departments run so that you can help identify issues and solve problems throughout the company. Should a problem come up, you will be the one people look to as a leader.
Learn how to communicate. – Communication skills are some of the most valuable skills a leader can possess. Without these skills, not only will you be unable to effectively communicate with others, but you will also lack the ability to motivate, encourage, and inspire as a true leader does. You must be able to not only explain things in a clear and concise manner, but also negotiate, train people, and share new ideas. Without effective communication skills, leaders also cannot network or help with business development.
Become self-aware. – The best leaders know that they must be aware of their strengths as well as their weaknesses. They put their strengths into practice every day and acknowledge areas where they need improvement. Without admitting to faults or mistakes, you may appear to be someone who does not fully take responsibility for their actions – a trait that a leader cannot have.
As the business world rapidly changes and evolves, it is important that you show your leadership abilities and traits early on in your career. Your managers will take notice and it will help you succeed in the long-run.
Want help taking the steps to become the best leader you can be? Communispond offers a full line-up of leadership training solutions in addition to training solutions on interpersonal communication skills and presentation skills.