Leaders can lift you up or drag you down, praise a group effort or promote themselves. And at work, leaders are often the difference between a great job and a terrible one. Here are six tips to become a great leader, whether you’re a manager or an employee:
Practice “radical transparency”
- The higher up you go in the workplace, the more secrecy there is
- Break the cycle of secrecy by including employees in decisions that directly affect them
- Let them in on the “inner circle” of decisions by asking for feedback on proposals or sharing important news before it becomes public
Give your boss a preview of your potential
Ask yourself:
- How are you innovating in your current role?
- Does your work have an impact beyond your team?
- How do you add value to your workplace?
If you have evidence-based answers to at least one of these questions, you’re positioning yourself well for your next role.
Seek mentorship
Most managers are not trained to be managers. And some managers don’t even want to be managers! If you find yourself unexpectedly in charge of leading a team, reach out to a boss you liked before and ask them for advice to guide you through this process.
Study how your team works
- Being a manager isn’t just about checking off tasks and evaluating your employees’ performance
- Leaders should also make it their job to understand their teams as a whole
- Studying the “full 360” of your team helps you develop your group as an “ecosystem”
Don’t wait until things get bad
You shouldn’t wait until things sour with your boss or until you’re ready for a promotion to start “managing up.” If you’re only trying to get out of a bad situation, you’re starting from behind.
If you’re not a manager, harness your power by “managing up”
- Put yourself in the position to do the kind of work you love
- Schedule time with your supervisor to highlight how you have performed and what you are working toward
- Don’t be afraid to correct the narrative if you think they have an incomplete idea of who you are
