If you’re part of a team at your place of work- maybe it’s corporate maybe it’s not- and you have a ‘leadership’ mentality but just aren’t sure of how to be a true leader because you’re not considered the ‘boss’..I’m here to tell you to put the leadership in FRONT and LEAD. Your team needs you and it will empower them to do the same.
I work at an independent retirement planning firm with 6 team members including the financial advisor. The financial advisor is essentially the ‘boss’ and has final say, but every person on our team is a leader and we’re always growing to be better leaders. Just as I have helped coach our own culture and the meaning of leadership amongst our entire team- I wanted to bring it to you guys because I know we’re not the only ones with these thoughts and with the question of “can I be a leader if I’m not the boss’?
To answer this question, you can ALWAYS be a leader no matter where you are or what you’re doing in life. Choose to be the leader. A boss and a leader can go hand in hand but not always.
Let’s first define what leadership means: simply put, true leaders lead by example. Leaders typically SET the direction of how to move forward- they carry a vision or a goal and motivate/inspire others on how to achieve it.
How to Be a Leader When You’re Not The Boss..
- You can grow as a leader so much quicker if you are honest about where you fall short sometimes. Mistakes happen to everyone, and choosing to OWN the mistake and learn from it allows you to grow in leadership.
2. Not only speaking positive words and encouragement to your team mates but also having clear communication is key to building the relationships around you. Lift your team up- be a positive light in your workplace. You don’t have be the boss to do this! This can be you-
3. This is a big one! Become PROACTIVE. If you want to lead by example especially when it comes to tasks and reaching goals..become proactive in your work. This means to start thinking about the next step in front of you. It means to bring solutions to the table instead of bringing more problems. Proactive team members start looking for solutions as a problem arises vs always seeking direction. A tip to becoming a good leader and be more proactive is sometimes just as simple as being curious.
4. So if you’re looking to be more of a leader at your place of work..I would start thinking about what the company’s goals are and make them a part of your own. This mindset shift will show in everything you do and the rest of the team/company will pick up on it. I promise!
5. I think this one speaks for itself 🙂
Alright guys, this wraps up a few tips I have on leadership today. Being a leader is simple- just start showing up as one!
