How can you develop leadership skills early in your career?

1 Define your goals

The first step to developing leadership skills is to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and why. Setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) will help you focus your efforts, track your progress, and celebrate your successes. You can also align your goals with your organization's mission, values, and objectives, and show how you can contribute to them. Having a sense of purpose and direction will motivate you and inspire others to follow you.

2 Seek feedback

The second step to developing leadership skills is to seek feedback from different sources. Feedback can help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and improve your performance and learning. You can ask for feedback from your manager, your peers, your mentors, your clients, or even yourself. You can also use various tools and methods, such as surveys, assessments, reviews, or journals, to collect and analyze feedback. The key is to be open-minded, respectful, and proactive in applying feedback to your actions.

3 Expand your network

The third step to developing leadership skills is to expand your network of contacts and relationships. Networking can help you access new information, resources, opportunities, and support, and enhance your reputation and influence. You can network within your organization, by joining committees, projects, or events, or outside your organization, by attending conferences, workshops, or webinars. You can also use social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, to connect with other professionals and experts in your field. The key is to be genuine, helpful, and curious in building rapport and trust.

4 Learn new skills

The fourth step to developing leadership skills is to learn new skills that can boost your competence and confidence. Learning new skills can help you adapt to changing situations, solve problems, create value, and innovate. You can learn new skills through formal education, such as courses, certifications, or degrees, or informal education, such as books, podcasts, or blogs. You can also learn new skills through experience, such as volunteering, shadowing, or mentoring. The key is to be curious, flexible, and willing to challenge yourself and grow.

5 Embrace challenges

The fifth step to developing leadership skills is to embrace challenges that can test your abilities and resilience. Challenges can help you overcome fears, develop courage, learn from mistakes, and achieve excellence. You can embrace challenges by setting high standards, taking risks, trying new things, or asking for more responsibility. You can also embrace challenges by seeking feedback, expanding your network, and learning new skills, as we discussed earlier. The key is to be positive, optimistic, and determined in facing and overcoming obstacles.

7 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?