What are some ways to gain leadership experience outside of work?

Get involved in professional organisation's and stand for leadership positions there. That will also give you an opportunity to meet and network with people that you would not have access to under normal circumstances.

Practice at home in your community. You don't need a formal title to be a leader. Leadership is about mindset. You have an opportunity to lead as a parent at home, as a volunteer at your church barbeque, or at a party you're organizing. Think about your leadership philosophy and how it applies in these different contexts. You'll hone your leadership skills and, as a bonus, learn to tackle leadership problems in new contexts and new ways.

Identifying one or two leaders you admire, and requesting some time from them to mentor, including not only through coaching conversations, but also advising on challenging assignments at work for you, and advising you through these. Also getting them to advise on helpful learning interventions you can undertake, without compromising the work and timelines you are expected to fulfill

One way to give back is to serve on a nonprofit board. I recommend starting with a strong board training program to gain a better understanding of how to be an active and engaged board membership. I’ve served as Board Chair, Secretary and have led several committees over the past 2 decades. Each experience has helped me become a better team member and leader.

It can be very difficult to build leadership expertise in a sector that you're unfamiliar with. Passion for a cause is important but only gets you so far. If you want to really showcase leadership, becoming a trustee is one of the best things to do, but it's also challenging and important to get right. One way to lower the stakes, develop as a leader, and build the relevant expertise as well is to join @Pilotlight as a Pilotlighter; you get to support a cause in a really impactful way, but you also have a Pilotlight Project Manager at your side to help and give some guidance in how you make the best of your expertise for the cause you are supporting.

I’m a huge supporter of gaining leadership skills outside of your professional work. I believe that being a leader shouldn’t stop the moment your workday ends. Leadership is 24/7 365 days of the year. Joining a professional association, volunteering, and impacting individuals in a positive way, only adds more value to your leadership abilities. These are areas that will also challenge your skillset and give you more insight into who you are as a leader because you typically won’t have a “position title,” that puts you into a position of authority. Are you still able to lead individuals without a title?

Another advantage is to be around professional mentors and create meaningful connections that can be beneficial for future career opportunities as well as for professional networking

Joining a committee of a professional association brings many rewards. Your network will increase as you collaborate with motivated aligned professions and make connections at events. However don't sit back and wait for someone to ask you to lead something. Bring your ideas, nominate yourself and you'll reap the rewards.

PA's offer a structured platform for skill development, networking, and exposure to industry trends. By actively participating in committees, taking on leadership roles, and collaborating with peers, individuals can cultivate essential leadership competencies, from decision-making and teamwork to strategic thinking and advocacy. These experiences not only enhance one's professional profile but also provide a broader perspective on the industry landscape, fostering innovative thinking and adaptability. Joining a professional association is not just about career advancement; it's an investment in personal growth and industry leadership when the time is right in a healthy career.

Agreed. There are a plethora of associations "out there" for every interest, profession, and specialty imaginable. I suggest 2 types of professional organizations: one related to your business/role in an organization (examples - legal; medical; project management) and one related to your specialty/expertise (examples - National Speakers Association for speakers; SHRM for Human Resource interest; Harley Owners Group for motorcycle riders who want to learn more about the profession).

Leadership experience outside of work can come from a variety of activities, including mentoring, volunteering, and starting a side project. Mentoring is an excellent way to develop leadership skills while giving back by helping others. Volunteering positions in the community allow for meaningful service that can provide lasting impact and build valuable relationships. Finally, taking on a side project such as leading a podcast, organizing a club or event, or starting your own business can give you the opportunity to build practical leadership experience. These activities are excellent ways to gain the necessary skills and confidence to be an effective leader.

Ways I’ve done this is coordinate shadowing opportunities with trainees or individuals that were interested in a similar field. Gives you the chance to have direct reports as well as mentor future leaders. I used this to demonstrate the required skills in such a competitive landscape and give hands on training in programs that they may not of had the opportunity in there current role. After the shadowing period ends I always like to give a short evaluation in accordance to policy, same layout, requirements, and delivery method to practice giving feedback and criticism.

Side hustles are a crazy cool way for Leaders to expand their expertise on other platforms. It gives us a different sounding voice and a more expansive audience.

Find a book on leadership that resonates with you and put what you learn into practice on a daily basis, both at work and at home. "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith was a book that upgraded my effectiveness as a leader. Don't be afraid to give yourself a weekly scorecard to get you started on building a positive habit.

Enroll in leadership enriching programs and classes. As Leaders we are ALWAYS learning and growing and expanding in experience and wisdom. Gaining new tools and resources will enhance your leadership skills and habits. Participating in workshops, seminars and networking events are other opportunities to update our tool box of resources.

Yes, however ... I equate this to reading the drivers' ed manual and sitting in the classroom. Until you get out and DO the thing you're studying, it's just theory.

Every leader needs someone they can turn to to help them gain perspective, challenge their thinking and create new self-awareness. Both mentorship and coaching can be beneficial and provide an opportunity to explore who you are and who you want to be. Find a mentor that is doing what you want to do. Spend time with them learning what they know and how they got there. Be intentional to glean from their wisdom and learn from their mistakes. Hire a coach that can help you think differently. What does leveling up look like for you? What's getting in your way? How will you overcome your roadblocks? A professionally trained coach will help prepare you to take the next step in your leadership journey with confidence.

By working with a leadership coach or mentor, leaders can acquire a well-rounded set of skills and perspectives that are valuable not just in their professional life but in personal and community settings as well. Benefits include heightened personal growth and self-awareness, enhanced emotional intelligence and versatile communication and problem-solving skills. Also, joining or forming mastermind groups can also be helpful in practicing leadership skills in a safe, constructive environment, broadening your experience and knowledge.

One of the most important traits in an effective leader is self-awareness. Hiring a coach helps you to develop that muscle in real ways. It can also be a brave space where you can work through challenges and blind spots outside of work- it may feel easier to take riss and be vulnerable in this space.

Having a mentor or coach is important to your overall success. You have individuals who have been successful and worked extremely hard to get to where they are without a direct mentor. More often than not however, they received mentorship through following the blueprints of another successful person. A mentor or a coach can share successes and failures that will help guide you in the right direction, be a sounding board when it comes to making big decisions, and will only add value to your success if they’re a high quality mentor. Choosing a mentor simply based off their successes isn’t the only thing to consider. Having the right principles, core values, personality, and much more go into choosing the right mentor.

Work with a coach! Full disclosure, I am a professional coach. I also experienced the power of coaching firsthand. Coaching helped me while going through a career pivot. Two of the best decisions I've ever made were to seek out a coach and decide to become one! I was stuck and unsure of my next move. I thought I wasn't ready to be an entrepreneur. I thought I needed more resources to make it happen. I thought I might be in over my head! Coaching helped me see how all of my goals were possible. I'm not going to lie and tell you I never doubt myself. But I do know how to reframe my thoughts and continue to pursue my goals. All thanks to the amazing coaching I received! So don't delay, work with a coach today!

I would like to add a few tips to develop a growth mindset which helps to develop leadership skills 1.Not saying no to new experiences..new skills and new tasks. Asking a questions how can I do this . 2. Experimenting with different approaches to try a new task. Taking feedback 3. Having an open mind ..considering other people's perspectives 4. Learning by reflection upon failures

“Leadership is action, not position.” - Donald McGannon-media executive As McGannon pointed out, you do need to be in a management position to be a leader. You could be an entrepreneur or an athlete trying to take your performance to the next level. Maybe an individual contributor to your organization? Leadership skills will help you stand out in any context. How do you prepare to lead? First, identify your values—we all have core and acquired values. Second, recognize your strengths—those skills that will differentiate you from others. Lastly, once you understand your values and strengths, you will be able to set value-based goals, grounded in passion and purpose. Bottom line, values work will give you the confidence to be a leader!

How we do one thing is how we do everything. A good Leader isn’t afraid to challenge themselves because we understand the importance and necessity of a growth mindset. Challenging oneself doesn’t mean your not a Leader, it shows that you realize there is always room for growth, transformation and creativity as you expand your wisdom and broaden your truths.

Leadership is a mindset, not a title. There are many ways to lead others - mainly through your actions and through the opportunities you create for others to step up and shine. There are many great books about the essence of true leadership, one I recommend is The Servant by James C. Hunter.

Leadership is a relationship between the led and the leader. Understanding that its being available and accessible at any given time. Leading by example and leading from the front. By emulating the Standard, however, Understanding that both those don't actually mean your in front but being present at any and all events that require the led to be available. The led also means the leader as well.

I am somewhat surprised that Toastmasters International (TMI) has not yet been mentioned. TMI is a worldwide organisation aimed at learning to speak in public and developing leadership skills. I joined in 2001 and had a variety of roles and responsibilities over the years. Just find a club near you, @ toastmasters.org! Toastmasters is present in 148 countries with over 14,000 clubs! It's a great way to make friends, learn new things, and practice accountability, communication, leadership, mentoring, and project management skills in a warm and friendly environment.

Do you know what stands in the way of being great? Burnout. ?? Whether you love or loathe your work, or fall anywhere in between, you become susceptible to burnout whether you love your job or not. You can develop resiliency and be prepared for these moments when they come (and they will in our crazy, hectic lives!) REFRAME your thoughts to tackle burnout: -Believe in yourself and what got you this far -Have a sense of purpose and a vision of where you are headed -Give yourself grace for moving at your pace -Know your strengths and values and understand broadly how they will get you to your goals …and take a few deep breaths! Make reframing a habit and use it as a tool to conquer burnout and bring balance to your life.

Two other ways to learn leadership... Be a youth sports coach and lead your family. Conflict management? Check. Role modeling? Check. Teamwork? Check. Creating a vision or a strategy and gaining buy-in? Check. Helping your team to prioritize? Check. And the list goes on...