15 Proactive Strategies That Establish Entry-Level Professionals As Leaders
/From Expert Panel, Forbes Coaches Council, Forbes.com, December 11, 2019
Mark’s update July 31, 2020: Although the current pandemic has had a significant effect on employment and new hiring for the foreseeable future, it is still important perhaps more than ever to consider your reputation as a leader at any stage of your career. These tips are still relevant and I hope helpful as you navigate these challenging times and continue in your career.
As a newer employee, establishing your reputation among more seasoned colleagues can be a challenge. However, positioning yourself as a leader early on can have both immediate and long-lasting benefits in your career.
How can you stake your claim as a trustworthy future leader and prove your value to your senior co-workers? We asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to share some lesser-known ways for greener employees to establish themselves as leaders. Their best tips are below.
1. Hone Your People Skills
One of the biggest mistakes employees make is thinking that if they just put their head down and excel at their work, opportunities will come their way. At the end of the day, it's not what you know that makes or breaks your leadership path, nor is it who you know in high places. It's not even who knows you, but rather what they know about you. Don't be your company's best-kept secret. - Lizette Ojeda, Dr. Lizette LLC
2. Grow Your Network
Greener employees will benefit in the short and long term by increasing their network. Ask more seasoned colleagues to share their learning or to be a formal mentor. Look for the leaders who you admire and invite them for coffee, lunch or an informational meeting. Prepare some questions about what best served them as they began their careers. Listen, apply the learning and stay connected. - Jerome Zeyen, InsightHR Consulting
3. Make Offers
Most junior team members find themselves working on things that are asked of them. They can utilize their fresh perspective to take a look around and see opportunities that will help their team reach their goals. Context is key. Making an offer that clearly aligns with the team's success enables greener team members to contribute in ways that establish them as leaders. - Marcy Schwab, Inspired Leadership
4. Ask Questions And Speak Up
Don't be afraid to go outside your job responsibilities. Listen keenly, ask powerful questions and speak up! Be perceptive and become more involved with seasoned colleagues rather than observing them afar. You'll be surprised at how your fresh ideas are received. Establishing these habits will support you throughout your career. - Bree Luther, Inspired Science Coaching
5. Invest In Your Growth
Leaders always recognize other leaders, so start thinking and working like a CEO or other senior level leader. Invest in your own personal growth as though you are already running a big team or company. If you are committed to constantly expanding your knowledge and skill set, you will naturally grow more confident and be able to add value in any situation. Invest in yourself. - Kamille Soler, The Ultimate LYFE
6. Make A Strong First Impression
A confident and clear introduction about oneself is an opportunity to project leadership regardless of one's level in an organization. Clearly stating your name, maintaining eye contact, leading with a smile and providing a bit of context about yourself during an introduction is a good way to leave a lasting impression with other attendees. Control your perception through your introduction. - Faisal Khan, 1ExtraordinaryLife, LLC
7. Be Solution-Focused
Often greener employees look to their superiors to have all the answers. Those that stand out are the ones that demonstrate initiative and come up with creative solutions without being told. If you come across a hurdle at work, before asking those above you what to do, come up with a bunch of solutions that you can discuss with them. It will demonstrate that you have a leadership mindset. - Kate Snowise, Thrive.How - Coaching & Consulting
8. Coach Upward
We need to teach employees how to coach upward by providing prospective and insight where upper-level management may not be aware of what's happening. We need to teach them psychologically-safe methods and strategies to do this. When we teach employees how to thoughtfully coach upward, their confidence grows and ultimately the communication cadence increases. - Tim Hagen, Progress Coaching
9. Be A Humble Hustler
Humility and hustle are two vital ingredients for success in any field, but especially for greener employees looking to establish a good reputation among more seasoned leaders and employees. In your humility, approach projects and others with a sense of wanting to learn as much as you can. When it comes to hustling, outwork everyone else around you. These things will prove your worth. - Ryan Lovett, Enneagram Enthusiasts
10. Practice Servant Leadership
When seeking to establish yourself as a leader if you don't have much leadership experience, you must become comfortable with serving wherever and whenever you are needed. You must be willing to assist the established leaders with tasks and responsibilities that may seem mundane. However, being seen as flexible, humble and willing to serve in any capacity will earn you respect down the line. - Lori A. Manns, Quality Media Consultant Group LLC
11. Lead Yourself
To establish yourself as a leader, start by leading yourself. Be on time, engage in strategy sessions, control emotions, offer extra help and make sure to look and act in a professional manner at all times. Showing that you have everything together on top of excelling in your work will gain attention from the right people. Mix this with a little patience and you'll find a bigger office in no time! - Miranda VonFricken, Miranda VonFricken Mastermind Coaching
12. Don't Try To Take Shortcuts
The notion that there is a shortcut to being perceived as a leader is not realistic for most people and situations. There are some temporary and short-lived efforts that can elevate some exceptional young people into the spotlight, however, it is unlikely for it to be permanent or widely noticed. Even the thought of there being a shortcut should be considered a maturity issue. - Kamyar Shah, World Consulting Group
13. Do The Unexpected
Greener employees should sharpen their active listening skills. They should listen for the unfulfilled desires or requests of more seasoned leaders and use their skills to help. For instance, if a leader states that they would like more data on a problem, the greener employee could do some research and ask to share their findings. The leader will likely be pleasantly surprised and notice the effort! - Karan Rhodes, Shockingly Different Leadership
14. Seek Out A Mentor
Identify your value points and how these can be used in the service of others. Does your boss need help navigating social media or reaching a demographic that you may be part of? What about a value-based mentoring exchange where you each bring your unique skills and needs to the relationship. Each of you gains by developing needed skills and by cultivating new relationships. - Palena Neale, Ph.D, unabridged
15. Cultivate Relationships Built On Trust
The bottom line of leadership is relationships. The foundation of relationships is trust, a quality that will serve an individual throughout their career. The first step in developing trust is personal accountability. Make sure the choices you make and the actions you take are those you are willing to stand behind, no matter what. You build trust by showing that you are trustworthy yourself. - Mark Batson Baril, Resologics
When we join a company, partnership or team, our expectation is that everyone involved will exhibit professional behavior toward us and each other. Instead, it’s highly possible that we may become one of the more than 60 million adults in the United States who are affected in some way by bullying behavior at work.
What kind of behaviors are we talking about? Our definition is any interpersonal behavior that causes emotional distress in others sufficient enough to impede their productivity or disrupt organizational functioning. It isn’t just a personality conflict — it’s a chronic pattern of disrespectful behavior.