Like any skill, the ability to lead successfully has to be developed and nurtured. And first-time managers may feel especially unsure about what to do in their new role, particularly if they haven’t received any training on how to be a leader at work.
They may find it counterintuitive that the “script” they’ve had in their heads and relied upon until now — “my skills, my talents, and my technical knowledge have led to my success” — is no longer their ticket to success as new leaders.
In fact, sticking to the same script will actually make them less effective, because being an effective boss requires an identity shift.
Leadership is not defined by job titles True leadership is about positively influencing others, driving change, and achieving shared goals Any employee can become a leader at work by developing key skills and mindsets.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore actionable strategies to unlock your leadership potential, even without a management role
What Makes a True Leader at Work?
Before diving into how to become a leader at work, let’s clarify what workplace leadership entails:
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Vision – Leaders align their actions with the company’s mission and values. They embody the organization’s goals.
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Influence – Leaders earn others’ trust and respect to positively influence them. They lead by example.
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Emotional intelligence – Leaders understand their own and others’ emotions. They build rapport through empathy and compassion.
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Strategic thinking – Leaders analyze challenges holistically and creatively problem solve. They optimize resources.
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Growth mindset – Leaders see obstacles as opportunities to improve. They continuously enhance their skills.
While often associated with management roles, these qualities enable leadership from any position.
10 Ways to Develop Leadership Skills at Work
Employees at any level can become leaders at work by:
1. Focus on Self-Improvement
Work on developing your capabilities, from communication skills to technical expertise. Dedicate yourself to constant growth.
2. Add Value
Identify how to contribute most value to your team and organization. Gain niche skills and knowledge that makes you an invaluable resource.
3. Build Emotional Fitness
Develop resilience and a calm presence even in uncertainty. Apply creativity and positivity to navigate challenges.
4. Practice Self-Awareness
Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and work brand. Solicit feedback. Use insights to evolve.
5. Adopt a Growth Mindset
View setbacks and criticism as opportunities to improve, not failures. Never stop pushing your limits.
6. Support Others
Uplift colleagues through active listening, encouragement, and recognition of their contributions.
7. Think Strategically
Approach projects with clear objectives and plans. Know individuals’ strengths to delegate effectively.
8. Champion Innovation
Contribute creative solutions and ideas that drive the organization forward.
9. Take Initiative
Once excelling in your role, take on more responsibility proactively. Seek challenges to conquer.
10. Surround Yourself with Mentors
Stay inspired by experienced leaders. Attend conferences and training to continuously learn.
While becoming a leader at work requires effort, the personal growth and increased impact are well worth it.
Signs Your Leadership Skills Are Developing
How can you assess your progress in becoming a leader without an official title? Signs your workplace leadership abilities are strengthening include:
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Others ask for your input – Colleagues value your perspective to inform decisions.
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Your workload increases – You are entrusted with more critical projects.
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You volunteer for challenges – You raise your hand to tackle the tough problems.
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Peers emulate you – Coworkers model their behavior after yours.
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You mentor others – Colleagues seek out your wisdom and guidance.
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Your impact expands – Your influence on team culture and performance grows.
When you notice these indicators, you’re on the right track to meaningful workplace leadership.
How Managers Can Cultivate Leadership at All Levels
While individuals can self-direct their leadership development, managers also play a key role. Executives and supervisors should:
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Express openness to new ideas – Signal that creative solutions are welcome from all employees.
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Allow failure – Understand setbacks will occur when people push boundaries and take risks.
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Customize development – Provide growth opportunities tailored to individuals’ strengths.
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Flatten hierarchy – Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy that stifles cross-level collaboration.
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Decentralize decision-making – Empower people by distributing authority beyond just management.
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Offer visibility – Recognize emerging leaders publicly and provide visibility for their efforts.
By fostering the conditions for leadership at all levels, managers enable an agile, innovative, and resilient workforce.
Overcoming Roadblocks to Workplace Leadership
Becoming a leader at work has its challenges. Common roadblocks and how leaders navigate them include:
Roadblock – Lack of management experience makes it difficult to showcase leadership skills.
Solution – Proactively take ownership of team projects and suggest new initiatives.
Roadblock – Your ideas are dismissed by long-time employees.
Solution – Build relationships through 1-on-1 conversations to earn trust and respect.
Roadblock – Leadership opportunities are concentrated among an insider clique.
Solution – Network and find a mentor to sponsor you. Pitch high-impact ideas.
Roadblock – Management incentives discourage employee empowerment.
Solution – Align proposed changes with company goals. Highlight benefits to bottom line.
With persistence and emotional intelligence, these obstacles can be overcome.
Guiding Principles for Leadership Development Journeys
Becoming an impactful leader is a continuous process of growth. Keep these principles in mind:
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Leadership can come from any role; titles are not prerequisites.
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Focus first on developing your capabilities before seeking recognition.
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Progress requires seeking feedback and being comfortable with discomfort.
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Integrity, trustworthiness, and compassion are cornerstones of influence.
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Systems that concentrate power inhibit leadership across organizations.
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Leadership is a journey, not a destination. Maintain a growth mindset.
The rewards of leadership are immense. But the path starts with doing the work to become the best version of yourself.
By cultivating your skills, adding value, taking initiative, and uplifting others, you can become a leader at work and help create a collaborative, empowering organizational culture where all employees have the opportunity to maximize their impact.
Helping New Managers Understand How to Be a Leader at Work
New managers — and even leaders with previous experience — can learn how to become a leader at work by following these 6 principles. If you’re not a new manager yourself, you may consider sharing these tips with colleagues who are:
As explained in our book Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For, successful managers are able to flip their mindsets from “being a great individual contributor” to “being a team leader who motivates others to succeed.”
Our research found that such leaders tend to have a more open approach to learning than those stuck in the individual contributor mindset.
These leaders are motivated to learn because it’s fun, exciting, and engaging — not simply because it will bring them rewards, recognition, and recognition from others.
Effective leaders work on their skillsets for team leadership:
- Communicating with others the way they want to be communicated with
- Influencing others to move work forward and gain support for their decisions
- Building and leading teams successfully
- Developing others’ skills by assigning them challenging tasks and providing ongoing feedback
Our research has found that managers who rely solely on the technical expertise that landed them their promotion into leadership were rated as less successful in their new roles.
Successful first-time managers know that former coworkers and friends will view them differently. They accept their new role and set clear expectations with their direct reports, some with whom they may already be friends.
They also treat everyone on their team fairly and avoid favoritism, so they can become an admired leader at work. It’s important that first-time managers build strong relationships with all of their direct reports, even those with whom they don’t “click.”
By making roles and responsibilities clear and keeping track of each team member’s progress, new managers can successfully improve team cohesion.
Ineffective leaders have trouble making the switch from “best friend” to “boss” while at work because they haven’t flipped their script from focusing on personal relationships to focusing on the relationship they have with their team. Discover the art, science, and practice behind learning and leading as a
Productive leaders drive team results by delegating tasks. They set goals for their team members, and they give positive and negative feedback to help them develop.
“Do it all” bosses who haven’t flipped their script still define themselves by the amount of work they alone do.
By not delegating, you convey the message that you don’t trust your team to do a good job. Team members stagnate, productivity slows, and the company suffers. But delegating shows trust in your team.
New leaders face an abrupt change of perspective from “outsider” to “insider” when it comes to company politics. First-time managers are more productive and satisfied with their jobs when they accept politics as a necessary part of the bigger picture of leadership.
It’s critical for new leaders to gather information about those around them: the thoughts, behaviors, and needs of coworkers and stakeholders. They must observe behavior and determine what’s appropriate in any given situation.
In addition, it’s important for first-time managers to reach out beyond their current circles and gain new information from a diverse group of people within the organization. A broad perspective is key for promotion.
Leaders carry the responsibility to act on what’s right and best for the organization and those that it serves. Instead of acting with a self-focus, successful managers evaluate how their actions will affect their team, the organization, and everyone involved.
Developing integrity is essential for leaders, and comes with time and practice. New leaders should work to establish a strong moral code and hold their decisions against it, especially in difficult situations. It’s important they don’t allow a relationship, time pressure, or money to affect their judgment.
New managers who focus on integrity build trusting relationships with their team and are more likely to be successful in their careers and new roles … And this is especially key to be a leader at work who everyone admires.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore our first-time manager training course, CCL Boost™ for New Leaders, an online tool to help you learn how to be a leader at work and shift from being an individual contributor to a successful manager of people.
- Published July 27, 2022
- 5 Minute Read
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How to Improve Leadership Skills at Work
How do you become an effective leader?
If you want to become an effective leader, you first need to evaluate who you are as a communicator and collaborator, and be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. “We all have our behavioral styles and typical approaches that have been baked into us since we were young,” Lynde said.
What makes a good leader at work?
This is often where leadership at work begins – not in an executive office, but out in the bullpen or in the field: making connections and creating goodwill that is based on a genuine interest in others. This is the ability to understand others’ feelings and reciprocate in kind, while also controlling your own emotions.
What does it mean to be a leader at work?
Being a leader at work requires resourcefulness – in achieving your personal goals and your goals as a team. This doesn’t mean doing more with less. It means thinking strategically and always being goal-oriented. It means having a plan to get you to your goals and having the determination to enact it.
How do you become a leader at work?
1. Gather resources to learn about how to be a leader at work. As explained in our book Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For, successful managers are able to flip their mindsets from “being a great individual contributor” to “being a team leader who motivates others to succeed.”
