(Austin Reaves and LeBron James, source: NBA on TNT Broadcast)
If you’re dealing with imposter syndrome—I’m going to let you in on a secret: most professionals are figuring it out as they go. They channel experience into confidence, but that doesn’t mean they have all the answers. In fact, even in the realm of leadership, you don’t need to be in management to demonstrate your leadership abilities.
Many young professionals have the unique ability to bring new perspectives to the table because they’re not bogged down by the drilled-down processes of yesteryear. Their new perspectives can lead to innovative solutions, but only if shared. Unfortunately, this is overshadowed by their tendency to defer to others because they’re too focused on their lack of experience rather than gaining further experience.
Imposter syndrome, which causes thoughts of self-doubt to creep up, is wholly dependent on the illusion that everyone else has the answers. Therefore, many young professionals believe that unless they are experts, they’re better off sticking to the sidelines. By operating under the false pretense that a senior title is the sole indicator of expertise, young professionals tend to perform a disservice to themselves and their team, as a result.
Leadership isn’t so much a title as it is a journey. Admittedly, this sounds very cheesy (because it is). While a small fragment of us are born with natural propensities to take charge, most of us aren’t—and that’s okay so long as we set on a path to develop our leadership skills.
Whether you’re still in school or working as an individual contributor, early in your career, here are five tips to help you stand out as a leader.
Tip 1: Take Initiative
If you see an opportunity to get something done, take it. Employers value self-starters because of their ability and willingness to prioritize action. I’d argue that willingness is more important because most of us are capable of driving change, but few of us are vocal in our desire to seek it. Rather than taking a passive role, leaders take the initiative to solve problems. These drivers of change save companies time and resources, through the productive use of their time.
Taking initiative can also be infectious. Action, weirdly, has the ability to inspire others to get things done. This domino effect can perhaps be illustrated by production companies realizing they could invest most of their budgets in remakes and sequels, as opposed to allocating resources to originals. So, if you want to level up your leadership skills, make sure to surround yourself with go-getters or be one yourself.
Tip 2: Create Systems
Motivation, the feeling of wanting to complete a task, isn’t as important as your system, i.e., what you default to when you don’t feel like you’re up to the task. Sudden bursts of energy are great and they have their moments, but you shouldn’t solely depend on motivation to study or get work done. Instead, leaders create systems, which are routines for managing their workload, despite the willingness to act.
There’s also the added bonus of time management. For example, instead of checking emails as they come, blocking out times on a calendar to read and respond to messages can pave the way for deep, uninterrupted work. Other time slots can be saved for more pressing projects to ensure that time is protected. By creating a system, you’re able to leverage your capacity to produce better results without burning out.
Tip 3: Be Cautiously Optimistic
Being a downer will limit your potential, and your team (or those within earshot) will suffer. Challenges will always arise. Instead of focusing on what’s out of your control, focus on actionable items. There’s usually a way out, so don’t panic. Take a step back, reassess the situation, and start brainstorming. We often find ourselves better off than we were before a situation arose by finding solutions when our backs are against the wall. It’s not a surprise to discover how often teams stumble upon innovation in response to crisis.
On the flip side, it’s okay to acknowledge that a situation sucks. Being cautiously optimistic shouldn’t cloud your judgment. It’s better to opt for a more moderate, holistic outlook on life by taking a realistic approach to problem-solving. You might be asking yourself, “I wonder what movie trope can best elucidate this point?” Look no further than the scene where the coach of a losing team is delivering a fiery locker room speech to motivate his team from the precipice of defeat. It’s rare for the team to emerge at the end with a landslide victory, but a win is a win.
Tip 4: Seek Feedback
Leaders understand the importance of receiving feedback. Regardless of how self-aware you are or how self-aware you think you are, others will always see something you don’t. That’s why seeking external input is one of the most effective ways of accelerating your professional development. In a typical business environment, most individuals outside of management won’t go out of their way to provide feedback. Leaders must proactively solicit feedback whether it’s for an idea or for themselves.
Moreover, it’s probably not a coincidence that ineffectual leaders tend to be the most defensive. It’s essential to never associate your quality of output with your self-worth. Your work can improve, and none of us are immune from constructive criticism. So, next time you check in with a direct supervisor or want to improve a process, ask for feedback. The ability to embrace feedback allows leaders to develop faster.
Tip 5: Stay Curious
The most transformative leaders stay curious and follow their intuition. Have an idea? Don’t just leave it there. Experiment to see where it takes you. Doing so allows you to pick up new skills that could lead to different career trajectories. As a leader, you should never be comfortable with the status quo because there’s always room for improvement. Without curiosity, humanity wouldn’t benefit from breakthroughs in medicine or revolutionary inventions, like the Zune or Betamax.
However, it’s necessary to overcome fear to stay curious. Whether it’s the fear of change or failure, fear hinders progress. Leaders must accept that most ideas may not be great and that failure is a part of the game. Once they’re comfortable failing, they’ll realize those lightbulb moments are just around the corner.
Takeaways
As a young professional, there are many ways to develop your leadership skills: start out by taking the initiative and creating systems to leverage your time. When faced with hurdles, practice cautious optimism. Even after success has been achieved, the best way to accelerate your growth and maintain professional development is by seeking feedback. Finally, stay curious and keep pushing forward.