Leadership is more than a position. It’s a journey from an individual contributor to someone who helps other people and organizations. If you aspire to be a leader, you need to look for opportunities and sometimes ask to be considered.
Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.
Simon Sinek
To become a leader, one can follow two main paths, each with its own set of challenges and opportunities: climbing up ladder and a new job.
Climbing the Ladder
This classic route involves starting as an individual contributor and gradually moving up to senior roles. Keep an eye out for leadership opportunities. When the time comes, seize them. Use your experience and growing expertise as stepping stones. One important part is to ask to be considered. If you don’t ask, you may not be given chances.
The Business Need
Leadership opportunities typically arise from the needs of the business. If there’s no pressing business requirement, securing a leadership position can be challenging. These needs often originate from scenarios like another leader leaving the organization or when the company is expanding. In such situations, the gap created or the growth trajectory paves the way for new leadership roles. These moments offer opportunities for aspiring leaders to step up.
Smaller Companies
As small companies often grow rapidly, they present frequent and varied opportunities for advancement. This dynamic environment allows you to swiftly maneuver towards emerging leadership roles. It makes it possible to climb the ladder at an accelerated pace compared to larger, more established organizations.
Another path is within large corporations that have specific divisions experiencing rapid growth. These divisions are often new bets just like a startup. In these fast-evolving segments, new leadership roles often emerge to meet the expanding demands.
Larger Companies
In large companies, earning a promotion often involves demonstrating leadership qualities well before the official recognition or title change. This expectation means acting as a leader for at least a year prior to being formally promoted. This approach allows the company to assess your leadership skills in action.
A New Job
Securing a leadership position in a new job without prior experience is a rare occurrence. Typically, companies prefer candidates who have demonstrated leadership qualities in similar roles, such as a project manager or team leader. In such cases, you may be hired as an Individual Contributor (IC) with the potential for a future leadership role, based on completing necessary training.
Nevertheless, this path requires a commitment from the hiring company and involves a risk for you, as there’s always the possibility that the company may ultimately decide not to offer a managerial position.
Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.
Chris Grosser
Leading Beyond the Title
True leadership is about influencing and inspiring others, not just holding a position of authority. You need to demonstrate skills about understanding people, guiding them, and helping them grow. Regardless of the path chosen, it’s vital to understand that being a good manager is less about role related skills and more about your ability to manage people effectively.
Before aspiring to a managerial position, consider trying a lead role with indirect reports to gauge your interest and appetite for management. I have seen many people find this to be a valuable step in understanding whether a management track is suitable for them. I have seen many people transitioned back to IC roles.
Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.
Brian Tracy
Your path to leadership is unique. It’s about understanding yourself, your team, and your organization, and finding the best way to contribute and grow within these realms. Remember, your path to leadership might be different than others. Yet, common traits for leaders are constant such as commitment, adaptability, and the ability to inspire.
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