Surprisingly, most employees on the job look to management as the sole “owners” of leadership qualities and behavior. However, the truth is that your job title should never reflect your leadership effort and leadership can and does exist at every organizational level.
Simply put, every employee, no matter where they stand on the ladder of success, should strive to lead on the job.
“What do you mean? I can’t be a leader. I haven’t even been in my field that long.”
If you share in this mindset, then you may want to reconsider your notion of leadership. That’s especially true if you feel leadership only “belongs” to the person who oversees many people, and takes a hardline stance on pay increases, promotions, hiring, and firing. Sure, that’s certainly a workplace leader. But if you look around your building, you may start to notice other leaders as well . . . and I’m not just talking about senior management.
If you open your mind, the less obvious leaders will start coming into view. Generally, they are people who lead by example, something not requiring a lofty job title. This type of employee can find work success and help their workplace succeed.
Before going any further, let’s examine the dictionary definition of leadership. Merriam-Webster defines it as “the power or ability to lead other people.”
Each employee has the power and ability to lead others whether an entry-level worker or one who manages a $100-million budget. The “power” resides in an employee’s attitude and how they display it on the job through their actions. In other words, part of leading effectively comes from taking pride in your work and striving to do it well. It’s also about reflecting that pride and work effort on others who work alongside you, in other departments, and supervise you. Leading by example is one of the most powerful leadership tools of all.
Let’s take the example of an entry-level salesperson, who I will refer to as “Joan.” Joan is a quintessential leader even though she’s not the top manager in the company, let alone the most senior salesperson.
Joan is a leader because she always shows up to work on time, performs all her assigned tasks well, treats every one of her colleagues with respect, and speaks highly of her company on and off the job. She’s also witty, enthusiastic, loves to tell appropriate jokes, and keeps colleagues and others smiling on even the toughest days.
Not only do Joan’s sales colleagues look up to her, but they emulate her example, leading to a sales crew that performs a stellar job. Moreover, even employees in higher-level positions know Joan for her work ethic. And, they appreciate her ability to add a bit of levity to an otherwise stressful workday. These actions Joan takes illustrate how leadership can appear in many forms.
Other ways in which employees lead by example include:
- Consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines;
- Helping overwhelmed coworkers with tasks;
- Staying positive during tough times;
- Going above and beyond on assignments; and
- Playing a role in helping maintain employee morale, such as collecting money from colleagues to buy a get-well card for an ailing co-worker.
To sum it up, a workplace interspersed with budding leaders lends itself to having a successful organization. It’s because these conscientious professionals are part of what makes for success. In fact, there are many “Joans” who have started out in the lower ranks of their organization and worked their way up to management. These individuals rose up to management status in part because they were leaders long before they held the official title!
So, remember, even if you’re just starting out in your career, you can exhibit plenty of leadership skills and strengths now—and that it all begins with a shift in how you view yourself as a leader. It’s all in the world of leadership development.
