Leadership is Everywhere
You are a leader no matter your job title, salary, number of direct reports, or station in life.
Leadership does not only apply to your job or career, it applies to life itself. Every situation, every encounter, every project opens the door to leadership. It is incumbent on us to walk through this door and accept the role of the leader in everything we do.
In career, family, and life, be the leader others need you to be.
How to be a leader at work
Everyone can be a leader, so act like it.
You don't need the job title of Manager, Lead, Director, or Supervisor to be a leader. What you need to do is be a Linchpin:
- Put the team first. Do everything possible to make the team successful.
- Solve problems that provide value. Don't be selfish. Work on projects and tasks that provide the most value to the company (not projects you think are interesting).
- Share your knowledge with everyone. Don't gate-keep. The more knowledge you share, the more everyone improves. If everyones improves you can focus on other ways to lead.
You don't need a fancy title, start leading now.
How to be a leader in your life
Think of yourself as a leader in your life.
How would you act differently if you treated your life like a business? You can use the same principles to be a leader of oneself and of those around you:
- Put the team first. Your team is your family, friends, training partners, volunteer group, etc. Do as much for them as you can. Put their interests ahead of yours.
- Solve problems that provide value. What life problems are preventing you from living a fulfilled life? Solve those problems as you would at work. Prioritize and execute.
- Share your knowledge with everyone. Think about what you are learning in life and how you can share that with others to enhance their lives.
No matter where you look, there is opportunity for leadership—it's everywhere.