How To Become A Leader In 20 Minutes or Less

Become the leader you are meant to be with these quick tips

Leadership skills can be improved by leading.

Positioning yourself as a leader will give your work more meaning, and you’ll be able to advance your career. You can leverage your existing skills to increase the level of influence you possess.

While it might take years to move up the ladder to senior management, tapping into your personal strengths is something you can start doing right now. You don’t need a title to step into a leadership role. You can make a difference wherever you are.

You can build influence right now. Learn how to use your current position and abilities to build your influence and improve your leadership skills in the workplace.

Related: The Difference Between Leadership and Management

Using Your Knowledge to Position Yourself as a Leader

1.   Read daily. Leaders are readers. Read or listen to books, articles, or podcasts about business, leadership, or any topic that interests you. The more you read, the better prepared you’ll be to contribute to any discussion. You’ll sound like a leader whether you’re engaging in small talk or reviewing a new logo design.
2.   Sign up for training. Invest your time in brushing up on existing soft skills and developing new skills you need – they are yours for life and can never be taken away from you. Take advantage of programs your employer offers. If they don’t offer training, find what you need to improve your leadership skills. There’s so much available online, and you always have an open invitation to join The Awesome Leader League (T.A.L.L.), the Ultimate Collection of Leadership Skills To Be A Better Leader to get the skills you need. 
3.   Browse during breaks. Those brief gaps of time you spend on hold or between meetings can be put to good use. Break out your phone, and instead of scrolling social media, search for industry news. Recent updates can be found with a quick glance, and being informed about what is happening in your field makes you stand out if you are the first one to notice a new service, product, or company merger. For even more help, set notifications for topics of interest.
4.   Consult an expert. Reach out to your friends and contacts who would be willing to share their experience and wisdom. Interview them for your column at work or share their resources on your site. You can both learn from each other’s advice and find new opportunities this way.
5.   Shadow a star employee or a good leader. Let them know you admire their style and way of working. Ask them to show you what they do and offer to help with tasks to learn from them.

Using Your Skills to Position Yourself as a Leader

1.   Take responsibility. Maintain a reputation for meeting your obligations and fulfilling assignments. Take ownership for mistakes, even if you weren’t responsible for them. Accept that mistakes are inevitable. Instead of blaming someone else, taking responsibility, and trying to fix them! Keep a positive attitude. 
2.   Document your accomplishments. Write down your ideas, achievements, and missteps. Review past successes to boost your confidence, while reviewing mistakes will give you insight into what you can do better next time.
3.   Express enthusiasm. Attitude is an important part of leadership. Approach your coworkers with care and kindness. We all want to make progress in our work and feel fulfilled. We need good partnerships to do work that matters. You spend most of your time at work, which is why it is so important to contribute to a positive work environment.
4.   Take initiative. Take on some of the tasks outside your normal job that need to get done, even if they’re not all that glamorous or “high-profile.” Volunteer to manage a project to develop skills and grow as a leader. You never know who is watching and where or may lead.
5.   Share feedback. Thank people for sharing feedback on your performance and recommending actions you can take to further your professional growth and development. Giving advice can be a difficult task, but it’s important to do it well. Just remember that you want to be constructive, respectful, and helpful, not hurtful.
6.   Give generously. Above all, be an invaluable strong team player and show that you care. Ensure that you have time for your team members when they need help, and always offer support to team members who needs assistance. Not only will you build relationships and strengthen your network, but you’ll also be helping everyone succeed. It’s also always nice for people to feel appreciated, so make a point to do something nice for someone today, and don’t forget to say something nice.

Transform yourself into the kind of good leader and person others will want to follow.

Your knowledge and skills are valuable resources that can help you to develop your talents and inspire others.

Want to continue learning to be a better leader in 20 minutes or less?

Join the Awesome Leader League, the Ultimate Collection of Leadership Skills To Help You Be A Good Leader.

Develop yourself more than you ever thought possible in a short amount of time and lead the team everyone wants to be on.

Learn more about The Awesome Leader League here.

Rebecca Morgan, PhD, is an award-winning former Disney leader and founder of The Awesome Leader League (T.A.L.L.), the ultimate collection of leadership skills to help you be a better leader. Without EVER being a soul-sucking “boss-hole.” Join us here.