I was once asked what advice I would offer young people who intend to pursue a career that involved leading others. These 7 tips are the advice I would provide, but they don’t just apply to young people. In fact, these tips apply to more than just aspiring leaders and are useful for anyone wishing to be a more productive member of their team, or who are starting out in a new job or position.
- Don’t lose your enthusiasm. You bring a fresh view and enthusiastic approach to the issues. This may annoy older members of the organization and there will be those who tell you that you can’t change anything, or that’s just the way it is. Don’t let them extinguish your passion!
- Learn to communicate. That is, learn to communicate as the professional world does, which is different from social media and texting. The business world still likes to see proper grammar and complete sentences. Learn to get your point across quickly and succinctly. This goes for email as well. Also, get comfortable speaking. Learn to stand in front of people and get your point across briefly but clearly. Conquer stage fright. The best way to do that is by being confident in what you are presenting. Get your facts together, know your subject, then tell them what you know.
- Keep learning. When you complete your formal education, it is very tempting to say, “That’s it, I’m not studying anymore.” But, you must never stop learning. Learn about your job, learn about people, learn about the industry and the company. Don’t stop there. Learn about the issues of the day; learn about trees, or rocks, or cephalopods if you like. The point is, don’t let your brain get stagnant. Many of history’s great leaders had wide and varied interests. It’s what kept them going.
- Learn about people. That’s difficult because you must keep an open mind, but it’s probably the most beneficial. In the 17th century, the poet John Donne penned the words “No man is an island.” In those five words Donne summed up one of the most important aspects of leadership. You exist in a complex system and you’re part of a team. The more you understand others in that complex system, the more you will thrive.
- Don’t try to change everything — but look for things that can be improved. You and your generation are going to change the world; each generation does. But you aren’t going to change everything, or change things all at once. It’s common for new people to want to change everything as soon as they start in a new position. Nothing will annoy both bosses and subordinates faster. Subordinates may feel you’re trying to change what they’re comfortable with before you know all the details, while bosses may see your desire for change as a challenge to their authority, or indictment of their achievements. With this caution in mind, don’t hesitate to look for things that can be improved. You bring a fresh perspective and a new set of eyes to the organization and you will see things that the more established members don’t. But, be cautious and consider all the factors before trying to make a change.
- Maintain a sense of personal humility. Chances are, fairly early in your career, someone will help you attain a certain level of humility. You will provide them with the opportunity and they will take advantage of it. There will always be someone who knows more than you or has a talent you don’t. Cultivate them and encourage their knowledge and skills. The role of the leader is often that of the humble servant.
- Go the extra mile. Be willing to take on things others won’t. Doing this will show more senior leaders that you aren’t afraid to take on difficult tasks and, who knows, that project that seemed unpleasant might turn out to present a new opportunity.
Embrace your future and its possibilities! In fact, this is a pretty good list of actions for anyone who wants to be more successful in life.
Bob Mason is dedicated to leadership development. He works with companies to solve problems by helping supervisors and managers become more effective leaders leading more productive teams. He is a professional speaker and author of Don’t Worry, You Can Do This: What New Supervisors and Managers Need to Know About Leadership; The Art of Not Motivating: How Leaders Can Succeed by Understanding the True Nature of Motivation; Balancing the Generations: A Leader’s Guide to the Complex, Multi-Generational, 21st Century Workplace; and Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works.
A 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force exposed him to great leaders and leadership opportunities such as command of four squadrons, including the Air Force’s largest munitions squadron. He has studied leadership extensively, but more importantly has been there, working with real people, making hard decisions, and experiencing the results.
Contact Bob at Bob@BobMasonSpeaker.com or 505-453-5266
