Every day, 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the retirement age of 65 – that’s seven Boomers per minute. Therefore, it won’t be long before millennial employees will take the helm in the workplace. In fact, two-thirds of millennials intend to hold a leadership position within the next decade. No matter what generation you fall in, is it time for you to step up? Here are five actions you can take today to grow your leadership skills.
- Create goals.
Start by taking some time to think about the type of leader you want to be. What does the role look like and how do you become that person? Knowing where you’re going is half the battle. Write down a few simple, measurable goals that will lead you in the right direction and begin working on them one at a time.
- Grow your vision.
Leadership is a weighty responsibility. When others depend on you to set the tone, you need to provide direction. Once you have worked on developing a long-term idea of where you’re going – share it! Your vision casting plays an important role in employee satisfaction and creativity. As an added bonus, sharing your vision helps keep you accountable.
- Be bold.
Being a leader often means blazing new trails. At times it can be challenging to change established patterns and adjust company culture, but you need to be willing to take risks and stay the course. A decisive and confident leader propels a company forward and gives employees something to get behind.
- Never stop learning.
No matter how informed you are, there is always more you can learn. Ask questions and listen to your employees, clients, and peers. Travel and pay attention to the cultures you experience. Create a space where people feel comfortable talking about ideas, challenges, and shortfalls. Creating an environment where knowledge can be shared starts with you. Keep in mind – everyone you meet knows something you don’t!
- Harness the power of networking.
Take advantage of every opportunity to connect with others in and out of your field. Networking is a great way to make your company known in the community and form a trusted circle of colleagues where you can go to for advice. And you may even meet a mentor, form partnerships, and come up with new business concepts along the way.
As the face of leadership changes, it’s important to know your leadership style. Figure out what makes you a great leader so you can play to your strengths when the time comes. Now, get organized and get going!
