You’ve taken an eCornell program on leadership. You have the skills, the experience, the insight to lead. You’ve read the articles, paid attention to the “right” blogs and bring a special big-picture thinking to the office everyday. Now what? Stop and take a long look in the mirror. Is that a leader you see before you? It might sound superficial, but leadership is an intellectual pursuit that is nearly entirely dependent on superficiality. Appearances make all the difference.
1. Update your resume. That’s right, even if you aren’t looking for a new job right now, write your resume for the job you want to have. This forces you to review the last few months/years and assess which projects and responsibilities are illustrative of your talents and skills. Get your successes out there and assess what your “wins” indicate about your leadership ability. Think about your transferable skills and frame them in the way they bring the most value to an employer. Then float it out there and see what happens…
2. Evaluate your look. Everyone should take some time to review their clothing and get real about what image they are projecting through their clothes. Take one hour to go through your wardrobe. Review your clothing and make sure it fits, clip any stray threads, mend any tears and get items cleaned so they are wrinkle-free. For those who work in non-traditional environments, “casual” most certainly does not mean “sloppy”. Establish an expectation of professionalism in everything you do. It begins with your clothing.
3. Be polite. Who is likely to get your help, the person in another department who smiles and says “Hi” when they see you, or the person who looks down when you pass in the hall? As you move into leadership territory, people will remember you for your kind words or genuine thanks as much as your accomplishments. Charisma is everything.
4. Be present. When in a meeting, are you the person poring over your smartphone? Or playing Words with Friends? If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, you must be engaged in the task at hand and not distracted. Meetings can be a waste of time, but the outcome can only be as strong as your desire to make a meaningful contribution.
5. Engage. Be curious about your colleagues jobs and work issues. Ask people about their projects and roadblocks. Broadening your perspective on your business and the people in it will help you be a better leader and teammate. When in doubt, ask questions.
Polish your image, take stock and make a genuine effort to get to know your peers. Leadership is about engagement and consideration, the soft skills. People want to work with others who have found the right balance of authority and great attitude. Be that leader!
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Make it easy for recruiters to find you. You’ll want to show up in Google searches. Set up a profile on Linkedin (LI) for certain. Twitter, Facebook are secondary, but important nonetheless.
From Flowing Data
Think of the classic mentor/protege relationship. Your mind may conjure up images of the benevolent, caring tutor and the eager, receptive student in a perfect give and take. A friendly, healthy exchange of ideas and wisdom. Sounds idyllic…
Here’s a heads-up on next Wednesday’s webinar:
