You might have experienced this before, a co-worker was promoted to a leadership role you applied for. Did you think to yourself, “why did they get the job and not me?” What could you have done differently?
The first step is to ask for feedback so that you know what you need to work on, and how you can improve your chances next time the opportunity presents itself.
If you need to develop your leadership skills, now is the time to start. Look for resources on what it means to be a leader. There are plenty of video and articles online about the subject, as well as books and classes that you can take.
This is the time for introspection. Take a good look at yourself. How is it that others see you? Do they see you as a leader? If not, how can you change their perception?
Realize that being a leader isn’t dependent on already being in a leadership role. Don’t let your aspiration to be leader be limited by your current job description.
Be an example for your peers, offer them support and celebrate their successes, and contribute to positive changes in your organization.
Be a positive influence. Build relationships with your peers, your leadership, and those beyond your immediate team.
Don’t simply wait for the opportunity to show off your leadership skills. Take action and create the opportunity. Come up with new ideas, processes, and strategies that bring value to your organization and that transcend your current role.
Never stop improving yourself! Aspire to learn something new every day and stay current on developing trends in your industry.
Communicate your aspiration to be in a leadership role with your manager. They can support you and think of you when a new opportunity arises for a promotion.
Remember that these are only a few suggestions on how you can work at becoming a leader. The important thing is not to sit back and wait for it to happen. You need to work for it.
