You're working in IT Operations and want to develop your leadership skills. What's the first step?

1 Assess your strengths and weaknesses

Before you can improve your leadership skills, you need to know where you stand. A good way to do this is to take a self-assessment test, such as the DISC personality profile, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or the StrengthsFinder. These tests can help you identify your natural preferences, talents, and areas of improvement. You can also ask for feedback from your colleagues, managers, or mentors. They can give you valuable insights into how you perform, collaborate, and communicate in your IT Operations role.

2 Set SMART goals

Once you have a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, you can set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for your leadership development. For example, you might want to improve your communication skills by taking a course, joining a toastmasters club, or practicing public speaking. Or you might want to enhance your collaboration skills by volunteering for cross-functional projects, joining a professional network, or mentoring a junior staff member. Whatever your goals are, make sure they are aligned with your career aspirations and the expectations of your IT Operations role.

4 Apply your skills

Learning is not enough. You also need to apply your skills in your IT Operations role. This means putting into practice what you have learned, experimenting with new approaches, and reflecting on the results. You can also share your skills with others, such as teaching, coaching, or presenting. This can help you reinforce your learning, build your confidence, and demonstrate your value. Applying your skills can also help you get recognition, feedback, and opportunities for your leadership development.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?