I am so passionate about leadership. Both as an athlete and in the corporate world, I’ve had opportunities to lead teams. For me, the experience has been humbling and challenging, yet so rewarding. As I was gearing up for a recent job change, I wanted to prepare and equip my team for the journey ahead. I reflected on lessons I’ve learned in leadership and want to share what’s helped me over the years.
This list is by no means exhaustive and I would LOVE to hear what has worked well for you! Please share leadership tips you’ve heard or what has helped in your career so we can all learn and grow together. I hope these tips bring you joy, encouragement and direction in your leadership journey!
- A job title doesn’t make you a leader. Every single person has the opportunity to lead. We have far more influence on the people around us than we realize. The way you show up, set an example for others and encourage those around you is what makes you a leader.
- You have to take care of yourself before you can be there for your team. It is essential to prioritize your own health and well-being first. Stay tuned for a future post on Work/Life Balance Tips!
- Transitioning to people leadership requires a mindset shift. As an individual contributor, you start by asking how to best accomplish a given task. As a people leader, you should start by asking who is best to do the work. Hint: Often, it’s not you.
- Your most important work is investing in and supporting your people. There will be times when you should drop everything to be there for them. Timing matters.
- Positivity is a choice. Circumstances will not always be ideal. You will not always agree with or fully understand leadership decisions. That’s okay and expected. Be real with your peers, but then come together on a united front to lead in a way that’s authentic and encouraging.
- Part of your job as a leader is to filter out noise and stress that comes in so your team can focus on what matters and work effectively.
- Go out of your way to show gratitude and appreciation. It’s often the little things that mean the most. This can be as simple as typing “Thank you!” as opposed to simply reacting with that emoji. A little effort goes a long way. Also, in our digital world, hand written notes mean more than ever.
- Positive reinforcement is extremely powerful. Recognize and celebrate great work. Encourage your team to share best practices with one another.
- Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. You are all part of one team and it can be extremely motivating for people to see their leader jump in and do work outside their “job description” from time to time.
- As a leader, you are ultimately responsible for your team’s performance and success. If things go well, give credit where due. If things don’t go well, own it and figure out how to fix things for the future.
- Support exam progression. Set the expectation that your team creates a plan and be willing to discuss progress towards it on a regular basis. Advocate for your team to ensure they can get study hours. Focus on the effort rather than the result and reinforce his/her worth and value to the team beyond exam performance.
- 360 Degree Leadership – Leadership goes both ways. Tell your boss what you want and need. If you aren’t clear what is expected of you in a role, ask. If you don’t know what is needed to reach the next level, ask. If you aren’t sure how you’re performing, ask. If you have preferences for communication, work style, etc. tell them.
