knowledge | Journey

Be a Leader in Any Role

By Job Journey on Monday, March 2, 2015

You don’t need a big corner office or a fancy title to be a leader. You just need the qualities that all leaders possess. Whether you’re a young intern or a top manager, you can hone your leadership skills now and make an impact on your company and your career.

Good leadership is not only vital to a company’s success, but to every individual employee as well. Explaining and understanding what leadership is can be easier said than done, but the good news is that everyone–from the youngest intern to the veteran manager–can learn the essential skills.

How to Develop Your Inner Leader
You don’t have to wait until you’re in the modern workforce to become an effective leader. In fact, the best time to start learning those modern management techniques is before you even go to your first job interview.

Don Betz is president of the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), and its Leadership Central initiative is designed to provide, deliver, and support leadership enterprises on UCO’s campus. The leadership initiative enhances education through communication training, ethics, collaboration, and more. According to Don, there are some major factors that play into a new hire’s ability to sink or swim when it comes to leadership.

“The most important reason that new hires fail is that they do not listen, they don’t communicate, they aren’t ‘coachable,’ they can’t critically analyze, and they don’t ask the important questions,” said Betz. “Those are basic leadership qualities, and that’s what employers look for.”

Start Early
To learn how to lead even if you don’t hold an executive position at work, volunteer for a nonprofit organization or join a club. These groups, like churches and school organizations, are full of opportunities to lead on committees, projects, or events. They are great starting places for future leaders.

“There are hundreds of organizations on school campuses that can help hone those skills,” said Betz. “In an organization, especially if that organization has a large event, you have to learn to communicate, collaborate, and take on leadership roles. You will be absolutely astounded at what you can learn to do.”

Look for Opportunities
Train your brain to identify every opportunity to demonstrate your potential as a leader in both your professional and personal life.

“Lead by example. Be the first person in and last person out, and hustle harder than everyone else,” said Kyle Golding, CEO and chief strategic idealist for The Golding Group, a strategic planning and business development firm.

Remember not to get ahead of yourself. Don’t give up on big ambitions, but also focus on excelling in your current position, giving as much effort to the present as to the future.

Study Other Leaders
Find people in your office that you admire and study them. Ask them how they developed their leadership style, how they reached their current position, and any tips they can share.

If you are too shy to approach your co-workers or leaders, study the way they interact with others. Or, pick up one of the many books about leadership and give it a read.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re employed or not, you can find examples of great leaders,” Golding said. “Study the way they act, the way they think, and start implementing their ideas. It doesn’t matter if they are in your field or not. All leaders have a style that makes others want to follow them.”

Know Your Stuff
As an intern or a new hire, you can make an immediate impact as a leader by supporting your bosses and the company in reaching goals. The simplest way an intern or a new hire can flex the leadership muscle is by knowing as much about the company as possible.

“Never go in unprepared,” Betz said. “Know your skills, but also study the company and their ideals, values, and goals. Be approachable, be warm, ask the good questions, and demonstrate a good work ethic.”

Keep Learning
Leaders also take the initiative to grow and learn. A good leader has a curious and open mind, and so should you. Leaders think outside of the box, are open to new and exciting ideas, and listen to what others suggest.

You can share those qualities no matter what position you are in. If you want to move up, volunteer to learn something out of your current job description.

“Ask questions, but ask solid questions,” Golding said. “This shows you have an understanding of your role – no matter how small – in the big picture of the company.”

Offer to Help
Needless to say, offering your help is the quickest way to be noticed and appreciated. If your company is facing a challenge, ask how you can help. No matter your role in the company, you can make a real difference.

“Companies look for that special enthusiasm and spark that goes well beyond the resume,” Betz said.

Practicing important qualities of a leader like taking initiative, offering to help, or learning from your superiors will add value to your career and your company. So, take the time to learn these skills and you’ll shine when opportunities for advancement arise.

How do you display leadership skills in your life? Let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

At Work Leadership

Sharing Your Knowledge When No One Wants to Hear it

By Jared Cole on Thursday, August 16, 2012

One of the best ways you can grow as a leader and in your career is to share the knowledge you’ve gained with those around you, helping them grow as well. When starting a new job, though, it may not be that easy. Some co-workers, managers, and the work environment may not be open to the new person throwing around suggestions and nuggets of wisdom that could disrupt the status quo.

When your ideas go unnoticed and may seem unappreciated, it’s often very frustrating to feel like you have so much to offer that could help your organization grow or run more efficiently. While some companies are very open and encouraging of new, fresh ideas, some are more structured and require credibility before your voice is truly heard. The best way to get to that point is to gain influence.
Build Influence
By sharing knowledge from insights, academic learning, and past experience, you can help change opinion, but keep in mind that it’s not going to happen overnight. Building influence is like building a house, it takes time and continuous work. Start by not talking negatively without providing a solution to the problem. Honestly sympathize with others without joining their complaining and encourage listening to other points of view to fully understand their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. If you’re interested in learning more about influence, check out Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Here are some simple ways you can build your influence while sharing your knowledge.

Make it Their Idea
People are much more likely to agree to do something if they think it’s their idea. You can warm them up by leading them with questions that will prompt a “yes” answer. This will encourage a problem-solving attitude instead of a defensive one, which makes them more open to your idea.

In the case of making someone believe your idea was their own, provide a lead by sending an article that discusses the idea you had, and then ask the manager or co-worker what they think. Most of the time, offering advice can come off as competitive or abrasive. Casually asking others their opinions can help soften your statements.

Make it a Challenge
On the opposite end, some workplace cultures rely on competitiveness and sometimes you should use that to your advantage. Appeal to co-workers or supervisors by giving them a challenge. Having a fun competition between colleagues will give both of you a common goal and can give you the opportunity to bring your ideas to the surface.

Make Some Drama
Sometimes your idea has to have a certain “oomf” or zing to really get noticed and catch the attention of others. Look for ways to dramatize the idea to create excitement around adopting it. When you want to make a point, tell a story. It will stick long after the facts have been forgotten. That’s because a story or dramatization involves the listener or observer. Stories add their own experience and imagination to the story. It is a mutual activity that builds a bond between the story teller and the audience. Enticing someone to adopt your idea creates a far stronger commitment than compelling them.

Generating influence and creating a culture of sharing knowledge sometimes isn’t easy. There isn’t a three-step program that will get instant results, but if you follow these guidelines, give it some work, and have patience, you can earn your co-workers’ or manager’s willingness to learn from you. What are some ways you’ve shared what you know at work?

At Work Career Advancement

Staying on Top: 4 Ways to be an Expert in Your Industry

By Jared Cole on Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Whether you’re looking for a new job, moving up the corporate ladder, or changing careers, staying on top of the current issues and trends in your market or industry can give you a competitive advantage. While experience can go a long way in your career goals, not having the expertise to back it up can influence employers and decision makers. If job seekers and workers aren’t learning about their industry on a regular basis, it may seem like they aren’t taking advantage of their experience.

The good news is that you don’t have to go to school to increase your knowledge base. There are several ways, including free methods, you can use to give yourself that extra knowledge to not only improve your trade but help you be more marketable. Here are a few easy steps to help you go from beginner to expert in your industry.

1. Follow and Network with Industry Professionals
Try attending meetings with professional organizations in your field. Not only will you get to watch a good discussion or presentation on current trends, but you’ll be able to converse and listen to your local industry leaders and experts. They generally have a great understanding of the latest developments in the area and the business as a whole. They can also give you good specific sources for news and updates about the industry. Asking them where the future of your industry is going is a great way for you to learn what to research on your own time and can help provide discussion points for interviews or other meetings.

Don’t stop with local talent. Social media gives you the ability to follow and connect with industry professionals all over the world. Sites like Twitter give you the chance to receive news and updates from leaders, experts, and organizations instantly. Twitter allows you to follow conversations and separate those you follow into lists so you can check in on particular groups without sifting through your normal feed. Facebook and LinkedIn also have forums and news updates for professional groups or employers for you to learn from.

2. Read Trade Journals and Blogs
Thanks to the internet, anyone can become a blogger. The good news is that you’re almost guaranteed to find a reliable blog for your profession. Blogs can be updated at any time, so they can be an excellent source for breaking news and the latest in your industry. Ask your peers and opinion leaders what their favorite blogs are and read their older stories to see if the writing style and content is something you’re interested in. If you’re worried about keeping track of them all, you can put their URLs in an RSS feed so you can be notified when your favorite blogs are updated.

While trade publications aren’t as fast-paced as blogs are, they typically have more detailed and in-depth industry studies and articles by experts. In addition to signing up for the printed publications, there are several online options for receiving trade publications. SmartBrief is a professional news aggregator site where you can sign up for daily emails with relevant news and information from a variety of industries. Entrepreneur also has a large database of trade publications that can be downloaded for free. Check them out to see if any can help keep you informed.

3. Attend Webinars
You may get invitations to attend seminars and events from all over world, but few have the time or money to trek across the nation to attend these conferences. You can find several webinars, which are online seminars, covering a variety of topics in your field. They are offered through some industry organizations, can be a valuable source of information, and generally inexpensive or even free,. Some webinars offer downloadable versions of the presentation for you to keep and study on your own time if you find the topic interesting.

Webinars do have some great benefits, but there are some drawbacks for students or those looking to change careers. Webinars are most useful for those who have background knowledge and experience in their industry. They don’t give you the basics, and they are limited on time and don’t allow attendees to ask many questions. Use your best judgment before signing up or paying for a webinar that you might not be equipped to take.

4. Go to Trade Shows
Trade shows have declined in the past few years due to rising costs and social media, but there can still be some advantages to going if you have the chance. Trade shows are excellent for deepening industry knowledge because you can visit booths to see the latest trends, newest products, who is well-established, and who is entering in the industry. You’ll also be able to meet several people and informally chat for a few minutes, which is much easier than setting up informational interviews and faster than sending a tweet or email.

Wanting to learn more demonstrates drive and motivation that employers and management will notice. If you have long-term career goals, striving to constantly improve is one of the best ways to get there. If you follow these helpful suggestions, you can become a better worker every day.

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