Do you think of a leader as someone else with a
more important title or more experience? Think
again. True leaders have more than impressive
job descriptions and company anniversaries.
They have influence and contribute to something
bigger, not just to the work but also to the team.
You can show up like a leader, too. And when
you do, the rest of your career will take care of
itself. Here are 10 behaviors that can help make
you a leader:
1. Speak up.
Leaders, regardless of title, know their role—to
share and be part of the conversation . They
aren’t content to be bystanders. Decide upfront
in any meeting or discussion that you have a role
to play and participate. Think about how you can
contribute, not if you’ll look good.
2. Have ideas to make things better.
Leaders contribute to the greater good. Bring
ideas to help make your work, team and
organization better. And good ideas come from
being informed and learning about much more
than just your daily work.
3. Stop talking about other people.
Nothing makes you look smaller faster than filling
your conversations with everyone else’s
weaknesses. I used to work with someone with a
nonstop commentary on how everyone else was
annoying, frustrating, uninformed or clueless, and
so on. Most people who spend their energy in
this way are trying to deflect from their own lack
of confidence. It’s hard to have influence if
criticism is your currency.
4. Show your brand of enthusiasm.
This doesn’t mean you have to become a
cheerleader or be someone you aren’t.
Enthusiasm means confidence in your ideas, a
positive outlook and valuing others. No one will
show more enthusiasm for your ideas than you
do.
5. Power up others’ ideas.
When someone else gives a good idea, offer
validation and expand on it. As an example, if
your co-worker has a great recommendation for a
new way of connecting with customers, then
recommend how to get started with an
experiment.
6. Constantly improve how you work.
Always look for ways you can do your work
better. Share ideas for even small improvements.
Keep looking for how to increase your
contribution—even if no one is asking you to do
it.
7. Quit being a professional critic.
Early in my career, I had a respected boss tell
me that “being a critic isn’t hard and that no one
earns respect from doing the easy lifting.” It’s
not difficult to point out what’s wrong. Leaders
have recommendations and answers.
8. Solve problems rather than self-promote.
Keep your eye on the problem you want to solve
or an opportunity to make your work or team
better. Recommendations intended to make
yourself look good or get promoted are pretty
easy to spot.
9. Give credit to others.
Appreciate others’ contributions. Openly thank
people for a great recommendation that worked.
Congratulate others for the success of their new
project. This shows not only self-confidence, but
it proves that you are more interested in the
success of the team than just your own.
10. Promote yourself.
Think as if you had the job that you want in the
future. Know the issues you’d have to consider if
you were in charge. This outlook helps you
broaden your perspective and continue to grow.


http://www.success.com/blog/10-ways-to-be-a-leader-even-when-you-arent-in-charge

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