Are you an aspiring leader? This episode is for you. If you’re an experienced leader with a team with lots of potential, this episode is also for you.

Today’s episode focuses on those of you who want to move into a leadership position. Partly because I haven’t touched on this topic yet, I recently received a question on this issue from one of my coaching clients. Her question was, “How can I show my leadership potential when I’m not in a leadership or managerial role, AND I don’t seem to have the support of my immediate supervisor.”

Some of you are natural leaders, while others must work on their skills because it isn’t second nature.

Here’s what you can expect from this conversation that deals with nine ways you can demonstrate and strengthen your leadership skills.

1. Offer your support – Look for what needs doing and do it. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. Lighten your leader’s load, and help your teammates succeed. Try something simple like, “How can I support today?”
2. Master your craft – become the go-to person in your expertise or field. Others will pay attention by consistently showing you’re an expert in your area. They’ll be asking for your opinion or wanting to work with you.
3. Be passionate about what you do – passion is contagious. We love being around being people who are passionate about their craft and who light up when they talk about what they do. When you’re passionate about what you do, it’ll be reflected in your attitude and how you show up.
4. Listen to others – One of the few downsides of being passionate is that we often want to dive into the conversation first, but learning to listen to others is as vital as speaking first. We’re true leaders when we invite others into the conversation and hold space for them. This allows us to really get to know those around us and what makes them tick.
5. Speak up and communicate clearly – It doesn’t matter whether you’re communicating ideas, solutions or your vision. Always be ready to communicate clearly and succinctly.
6. Actively seek out leadership opportunities – Don’t wait for others to ask if you can lead a project, run an event or put together a presentation. Demonstrate initiative, raise your hand voluntarily and do you best work when you get the nod. By consistently raising your hand when new opportunities arise, you’re demonstrating yourself as the go-to person when solutions are needed.
7. Come to the table with solutions – Don’t focus on problems. Offer solutions you’ve been thinking about or that you’ve been researching. When you’re solution-focused instead of problem-driven, others in the room start noticing.
8. Have a growth mindset – as you practice and flex your leadership muscles, you won’t always get it right. You have to keep going and keep leading. Leadership is hard, but it’s rewarding. Making mistakes as an aspiring leader doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
9. Get a mentor and mentor others – Invest in your growth and find the right person or persons to mentor you. Successful leaders know that they can’t walk the journey alone. When you have the right person to answer your questions, offer advice and help you navigate your career, you gain confidence in yourself and what you have to offer.

Are you ready to go out there and showcase your leadership skills? I hope so! Take one or two tips you heard today and start leading!

Found this episode helpful? Share it with someone who’s aspiring to be a leader.

Connect with your host, Kele Belton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/
Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com