You’ve been at your job for a while. You understand your department. You know how your organization works. So, should you become a leader? Before you march into your boss’s office and announce that you’re ready for a leadership role, ask yourself these five questions.
-
Do my peers come to me for advice? If the answer is yes, that’s a good indication that people already see you as an informal leader. If the answer is no, think about whom others go to—and whom you go to—for insights about the job. Then consider what leadership qualities that person has that you may need to develop yourself.
-
Do I communicate well? A critical management skill is communication. As a leader, you need to listen well and convey information confidently and clearly—to your team members, to your peers, and to your boss. You also have to take into consideration other people’s communication needs and adjust accordingly. For instance, your boss may only want an email with a high-level summary of a proposed project, but your team members may want an in-person meeting with lots of detail and the opportunity for discussion. You need to be comfortable embracing a variety of communication styles.
-
Am I ready to be held accountable for not just my own work, but the work of other people? Many people are comfortable being individual contributors. But among the top leadership qualities is having the ability to bring out the best in your team. You need to be able to coach, mentor, and problem-solve. And if you’re unable to help employees improve their performance, you may ultimately have to fire them.
-
Can I see the big picture? Leaders keep the company’s goals in mind and look at the long-term impact of projects and decisions. If you can only see how a change in policy, pricing, or personnel affects you and your department, you need to practice taking a step back. Consider how that change impacts other teams, the organization as a whole, your company’s customers, and your industry or field. You can probably see the immediate effect of a decision, but also think ahead to what the outcome will look like several months or even years from now.
-
Do I truly understand how my tasks and responsibilities will change? When you become a leader, your workdays likely will change. You may spend much more time in meetings, writing reports, or handling administrative work. For instance, if you’re a graphic designer thinking about becoming the manager of the design department, you may find that being a manager requires you to work on budgets and schedules, participate in meetings, and review design work. You might have much less time to do design work yourself. Taking on a leadership position may mean that you’ll do less of the work you enjoy the most.
If you answered “no” to any of these five questions, a management role still might be right for you. You just might need to gain more leadership skills. The good news is that leadership can be learned!
In fact, you can earn a master’s degree in leadership at a top business school. Walden University is an accredited university offering an online MS in Leadership degree. The degree program includes courses on communication for leaders and managers, mentoring and coaching, resolving conflicts, and managing change. As you earn your master’s in leadership, you’ll learn about a variety of leadership styles and discover your individual leadership qualities. If you’re passionate about people and ready to motivate and manage others, choose Walden, and earn your master’s degree in leadership.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Leadership degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.