Although the recent U.S. unemployment numbers indicate a slight decline in the amount of jobs being shed, there is still intense competition for jobs. While networking continues to be an important tool in securing job leads, another critical component of improving your candidacy is to strengthen your leadership skills. As companies are faced with severe financial constraints which may prevent them from investing more in leadership programs and training, employers need candidates who demonstrate leadership skills and are able to immediately contribute to their bottom line. Leadership can be hard to quantify and conceptualize yet it is an element which many fail to address in developing their resume, unfortunately to their detriment. Therefore, if you are currently a student, a recent graduate, or even an early or mid-career professional, the following are tips which will enable you to bolster your leadership skills and to fortify your job prospects.
1) Understand your feelings about leadership- sometimes individuals believe that leaders are born and not made, and feel that they are not meant to be a leader. The reality is that while some may take to a leadership role more naturally, anyone can be a good leader if he or she is able to be fully aware of their leadership strengths and challenges. However, when given opportunities as managers and supervisors, some never consider their feelings about leadership and have difficulty in these roles. There are a plethora of leadership models to consider, yet the most crucial areas to initially assess are your interpersonal, communication, and analytical (problem solving) skills. All good leaders have superior competencies in these areas and if you struggle with any of them, it is important to remediate it. Most essential, you must first recognize whether or not you wish to be a leader at all. Some people say, "I don't want to be a leader, because if things go wrong, it falls all on you, and I don't want that responsibility." While it is indeed true that leadership is a risky endeavor, the reality is that career growth typically involves progressively advanced leadership roles and duties, and if you are unwilling to take up such duties, your employment prospects may be limited.
2) Practice your leadership skills through formal and informal roles- if you are a student, join a student club or organization and seek to contribute as an officer or as an active member. By serving as the president, vice president, treasurer, or even secretary you can gain valuable experience managing others, delegating authority, handling conflict, and addressing many other leadership tasks. If you are a recent graduate, join professional associations in your field of interest, and take advantage of mentorship programs in order to learn from more experienced colleagues. If you are currently employed, as an early or mid-career professional, in addition to actively participating in professional organizations, look to take up leadership roles in your place of employment. On a formal basis, agree to mentor entry level employees, explore training and leadership programs, and participate in organizational committees or workgroups. Informally, you can also mentor less experienced workers, be a sounding board for colleagues, and seek additional duties which may go beyond your job description.
3) Use self-assessment, training, and coaching to identify your leadership style and preference- we all have different leadership styles and preferences, and it is crucial to recognize your strengths and challenges. Taking leadership assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO-B), administered and interpreted by a qualified professional, can allow you to understand your preferences in decision-making, control, inclusion, and communication, among many critical leadership factors. Hiring a career or an executive coach can also enable you to modify your leadership approach and have an objective resource for feedback and consultation. All leaders invest in their growth and development, and securing such a coach will certainly enable you to heighten your leadership profile. In addition, organizations such as the Center for Creative Leadership provide comprehensive leadership training for individuals which can often be paid by your companyl.
4) Seek feedback about your leadership- if you are currently a supervisor, director, manager, or are in another leadership role, it may be beneficial to get feedback from both your direct reports and your own immediate supervisor about your leadership style. Such feedback is called a 360-degree (multi-rater) assessment, since you are receiving data from multiple sources and you are figuratively in the middle of the circle. Although it may be difficult to hear such feedback, it can truly be valuable in your career advancement and in recognizing how to launch your candidacy or your own promotional prospects to the next level. Good leaders welcome such feedback and leverage it to their competitive advantage.
5) Create a leadership plan of action- take stock of your current position in your company or in the labor market as a whole, and develop a plan in terms of where you wish to be in 2-5 years by creating short and long term goals, and how you will reach these goals. It is crucial to not remain stagnant in your leadership development but rather to be dynamic in your leadership planning.
Take advantage of all opportunities to sharpen your leadership skills to become a more attractive candidate. It will prove to be the best decision you make for your career advancement.
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