Imagine sitting across from your boss when he/she asks the question “Are you ready to lead?” A million possibilities, ideas and emotions cross your mind. Am I being promoted? Am I getting a raise? Or worse…am I being fired? This brings with it an onslaught of excitement, panic and fear. However, it all leads to the question, as a young professional, are you ready to lead? Will you be ready to solve problems, anticipate solutions and demonstrate your abilities to your superiors?
First, I think it’s important to look the part. Look to those in your organization who are leaders in their peer groups. Examine your own appearance. Would you look appropriate standing next to these people? Would an outside observer guess that you worked for the same company? If not, consider stepping up and realizing that sometimes in the business world the clothes can make the person. People tend to socialize and hire in their own likeness. Be sure your appearance has the right look.
Second, you need to act the part. I had a supervisor tell me recently that one of my strengths was my confidence in new situations. He said he’d feel comfortable allowing me to work with any client in his portfolio. Certainly as a young professional you’ll find yourself in a lot of new situations; however, self-confidence (even if you have to "manufacture" it slightly) goes a long way toward ensuring clients and colleagues will have confidence in you and your work.
Next, never stop learning. As humans, when we stop learning or when something becomes monotonous, we become bored. Boredom creates unhappiness and decreases creativity and energy. Don’t let this happen to you! Take any opportunity to continue your education, either formally or informally. Jump at the chance to attend conferences and participate in new areas of your company’s growth. Take the time to become an expert at something. Your area of expertise will ideally be job-related, because in uncertain economic times, experts who provide invaluable experience and knowledge to their organizations don’t typically find themselves jobseeking.
Now, get involved! Join professional organizations or volunteer. This is a great way to meet new contacts and demonstrate self-starting behavior. Discovering which organizations your company has supported in the past and getting involved is a great way to start the process. This is not only a way to demonstrate leadership, but all great leaders are passionate and well-rounded. Find your passion in the community and the benefits will be more than professionally tangible; you’ll feel good, too.
Find a mentor. This should be someone in your organization that you like, respect, and trust. It should be someone who possesses leadership skills that you admire and someone who has advanced within the organization from a position similar to the one you hold. Your mentor should be recognized as a leader within the organization by upper-level management, peers, and subordinates. Develop a relationship with this person and ask him/her to mentor you in your career. Solicit honest, regular feedback from your mentor. A good way to ensure this occurs is to schedule regular coffee dates to discuss progress and future goals. Also, don’t stop at one mentor. A good practice is to have more than one mentor to get different ideas and perspectives. In addition, this ensures you won't be "out in the cold" if the mentor you have chosen decides to explore a different career path.
Finally, seek opportunities to lead. Volunteer for assignments, organize company social outings, anything to give yourself the opportunity to showcase your ability to organize and direct a group toward a common goal. Be your company’s go-to person. Older, more tenured colleagues might assume you lack motivation to go the extra mile or not immediately look to you when they need assistance on a project, so be sure they know you’re at the ready when duty calls.
Following these simple suggestions could not only ensure you impress your supervisors and stand out amongst your peers, but you’ll cement your place in the next generation of leaders. When asked the question, “Are you ready to lead?” your answer will be clear.
By Sarah Ann Ersin, Senior, Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, PC
As published in YP Nashville Monthly.
