Types Of People You Need In Your Network To Build Leadership Skills

I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about networking. Here are a few highlights:

We all lean on each other for support in our professional journeys, and nowhere is it more critical to gain the support of others than in your career progression as a leader. Unfortunately, many leaders are "accidental," with more than 80% of them having been promoted to management through their high performance and budding potential, essentially learning on the job and copying the leadership styles and mistakes of their previous bosses.

While sometimes these bosses can provide excellent examples of successful and effective leadership, in many instances this is not the case, leading to a never-ending cycle of unhealthy, toxic work environments that are perpetuated through lack of training and lack of the right examples. This makes it imperative to locate the right people to add to your leadership network, who will boost your professional journey and provide you with timely advice and coaching along the way, so that you can make decisions with confidence and take care of your mental health while under the strain of your leadership responsibilities.

Here are the main types of people you need in your professional network to become an effective leader:

• Mentor

A mentor has been there, and done that. They are likely experienced in leadership and management roles, and they've made mistakes and learned from them. As seasoned professionals, they can guide you in your professional development journey, show you the ropes, share what pitfalls to avoid, and relate anecdotes from their own experience while allowing you to relate your own experiences without fear of judgment or damage to your career and professional reputation. You may find that you have a close relationship with your current manager, and in this case they would make excellent mentors. You should also seek someone who can provide you with a more objective view to your work; they may be in the same organization as you but work in a different department, or they could work in the same industry but not at the same company.

• Coach

Having a coach in your network is critical, particularly if you are serious about achieving your leadership development goals. These experts will guide and empower you to create action plans, identify your strengths and areas of improvement, and give you structured guidance according to your specific needs.

• Industry Peer

Industry peers make for great professional connections, because you can exchange best practices and ideas with each other, and gain fresh unique perspectives on your market and scope of work. This will help you to be more efficient as a leader and may even open opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnership which can greatly impact the positive outcomes of any projects you manage.

• Industry Thought Leader

An industry or leadership thought leader is someone who has built an extensive personal brand within their domain, and as such is respected and trusted by peers in your network, and amongst other leaders. Connect with these people and follow their insights on social media; this will help you stay updated on new trends, policies, and ideas, and can potentially position you as an upcoming thought leader as you engage with their content.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspectives. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected]; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert