Age is no excuse to not take lead

Leadership is a huge passion of mine. In any group, team, company, or community, there are leaders that help either make the unit grow or deteriorate.

I've been fortunate to be a sales leader at great companies like New Balance, Tesla, KeepTruckin, and SiLo at a young age. These experiences and the people I worked alongside of are what gave me the confidence to start my own CRM software company for small businesses when I was 26 years old (truthfully, just one year ago).

The workplace can make it tough for employees with less years of experience get into leadership positions. Helping others grow and reach a potential they may have not seen in themself is what I love doing.

Here are five things that helped me make the leap:

1) Stay uncomfortable

Growing up, I was a huge introvert and I still am to a certain extent. Now, I see positives in it because I never wanted to open my mouth just to open my mouth. What I learned was that I was constantly listening and observing.

Listening is a superpower. When people feel heard, you can create a genuine connection and build a real relationship.

Eventually, I had to start speaking up. My strategy is simple in speaking up and it consists of two things: sharing best practices from myself or others, and calling on others to speak out on their strengths or experiences to start dialogue among the team.

It sucks when one person takes up the floor, such as in classroom settings. The best teachers get the most out of students in real interaction and engagement.

Getting your team to start communicating and collaborating openly can fuel growth for everyone in various ways.

2) You owe you

This is my life mantra, and it's rooted from Eric Thomas. Here's the 7 minute video that I have admittedly listened to over 300 times in the morning every now and then before work, if I had to guess.

It's as simple as this: with any result, you take ownership - good or bad.

Many people blame other people: teammates, bosses, systems, processes, etc. for their results. Staying in the lens of what you could have done better to control the outcome can take you a long way.

3) Self-awareness

Know what you are good at and what you are not good at. Self-critique is important, and it's important to ask others for feedback on yourself.

Many of us think we are the best at what we do. Be vulnerable enough to know that you have areas you can improve in. Be willing to speak about it and work on it.

No body is perfect.

4) Diversify

In knowing what I believe I am good at, one thing that I have done inside and outside of the workplace is to partner with people that have different skillsets than I do.

I would consider my interpersonal and customer service skills strong. When I was at Tesla, the technicalities of the cars and the auto industry were not my strengths. Strategically, I would listen and engage with customers with another teammate that was much more technical than myself. This helped me put a more complete package and presentation together to help drive sales for myself.

Work with and add people to your team that have unique skillsets and backgrounds that your team or that you do not have. It's impactful to have someone that sees things from a unique perspective.

5) Help others win

One of my strongest convictions, especially in sales, is that you have to put your customers' goals first. If you help them achieve their goals and they make sense for you to have as a customer, you will hit your goals.

Same thing in managing my teams. If all of my team members hit their goals, I know I'll hit mine. It's clear to align on what their goals are, and have them be open about it. They have to want it more than you, and it's on you the leader to figure out how to tap into that with them.

Concluding

I share this because I genuinely love helping others when they are trying to figure out their path forward. We all need guidance. I may not be able to point them in the best direction, but one thing I can do is ask the thought-provoking questions that may get them to start thinking in the right direction for themself.

A management position is also not for everybody. If you struggle with managing your problems, time, and focus, do yourself a favor and don't add on a whole team's to yours. It's ok to focus on growing skills rather than a position change that may not make sense for you.

Lastly, please stop using age and experience as an excuse for you in your performance, getting a job, or getting a promotion. When I was 24 years old, I managed a team member in their 60's. I've managed people that trained me. Respect is and can be earned. One thing you can't be is fearful.

Whether you are labeled as a manager or a team player, you are a leader regardless because you make an impact on others internally and externally. That impact is either positive or negative, and you control that outcome - choose wisely.

Be willing to make and learn from your mistakes. That's how you can grow the quickest. You got this.

JL