How to Become a Future Leader
Your company needs you to become a leader.
The problem most corporations have right now is that employees don’t stay at the same job for life. The average professional has eleven jobs between the ages of 18 and 34. Companies are having to constantly hire from the outside in order to fill their management positions. One of the greatest opportunity in the current economy is to become an invaluably employee and position yourself for leadership positions instead of leaving. Smart companies will be constantly looking for and evaluating potential leaders in hopes that they can fill senior level positions.
You can become a future leader by focusing on improving these aspects of yourself and how you work. Read more...
Susan,
Great post! All are great points, but I especially like point 2; “Become an Expert on a Subject Matter”. I have relayed this same point to new hires that find themselves in distress mode, not really knowing what to do or where to fit in. I say, “What’s something within your objectives that you both like and are good at?” It usually doesn’t take long for a response, in which I can then reply, “Great! Become GREAT at that! Be irreplaceable when it comes to ___!”
I find it to be a win/win because you are then “choosing” to spend time developing skills in an area of interest, eventually donned “the expert”, all while solidifying your spot within the organization and within your team.
Who doesn’t want to like what their doing, receive recognition, and create more job security? In my mind, that’s just what Becoming an Expert does!
That is such great advice Kristy. I have given similar advice to people who find themselves unemployed. Just because you don’t have a job doesn’t mean you can’t be at work growing your expertise. Looking for a job can be grueling. Focusing some of your energy on growing gives you a much needed boost of energy and gives you something potent to talk about during an interview.
I especially appreciated this guest article from Dan Schwabel because he is a young leader who practices what he preaches.