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Talk about a time you showed leadership
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8 answers
Updated
Angel’s Answer
Leadership can be demonstrated in various ways. Leading a project, taking intiative to complete a task, or helping others learn new things. Leadership is not only having a title, but by demonstrating actions that justify your leadership skills. There are many courses online that can help you sharpen your leadership skills.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Costar
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
I give advice to many people asking "how do I practice leadership" or "how can I build leadership skills without managing a team" and it's very important to understand that acting like a leader can be many things. It's important to set an example to those around you by showing encouragement, practicing clear communication, supporting others, and offering helpful advice. Those are all important fundamentals to leadership. If you're working on a group project, step up to help organize the team, ensure everyone has clear direction, and help folks who may be struggling.
There are many ways you can "flex" your leadership muscles that have nothing to do with being the "boss" of a team. Providing help, advice, and mentorship to a peer can help you practice and learn the skills needed to eventually lead larger teams. I'd suggest you read about giving effective feedback, because even the act of giving someone tough feedback (but framed up in a constructive way) shows leadership if others failed to have the tough conversations that you're willing to have.
Article: https://hbr.org/2020/01/to-be-a-great-leader-you-need-the-right-mindset
There are many ways you can "flex" your leadership muscles that have nothing to do with being the "boss" of a team. Providing help, advice, and mentorship to a peer can help you practice and learn the skills needed to eventually lead larger teams. I'd suggest you read about giving effective feedback, because even the act of giving someone tough feedback (but framed up in a constructive way) shows leadership if others failed to have the tough conversations that you're willing to have.
Kelly recommends the following next steps:
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Joseph’s Answer
Hi Costar,
I cannot explain leadership better than with this analogy.
As a leader, imagine you and your team are pulling a cart along a dirt road.
The leader is the one who pulls and directs the cart, so everyone pulls in the same direction. However, the leader is also the one that:
- scouts ahead to see if there are obstacles and goes out of their way to remove them
- if one of his teammates is struggling, they are one of the first to go and help them out (while most of the time still pulling their own weight as well!)
- sets the pace to keep everyone in sync, but also adjusts the pace if someone is falling behind
Leaders lead by example, and you innately get inspired by their own actions. The guide from respect rather than authority.
I cannot explain leadership better than with this analogy.
As a leader, imagine you and your team are pulling a cart along a dirt road.
The leader is the one who pulls and directs the cart, so everyone pulls in the same direction. However, the leader is also the one that:
- scouts ahead to see if there are obstacles and goes out of their way to remove them
- if one of his teammates is struggling, they are one of the first to go and help them out (while most of the time still pulling their own weight as well!)
- sets the pace to keep everyone in sync, but also adjusts the pace if someone is falling behind
Leaders lead by example, and you innately get inspired by their own actions. The guide from respect rather than authority.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Costar
Updated
Mohit’s Answer
Hi Costar. As others have said, there are many ways to demonstrate leadership. One of the ways I found to be helpful was to volunteer for difficult projects or tasks, which others may shy away from. It may mean hard work and more of a time commitment but it is a great way to demonstrate that you are a leader willing to take on challenges. It often earns you the respect of others and they will be more willing to let you lead in the future.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Costar
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Hi Costar,
There is no black and white blueprint for leadership. Throughout my career I've been fortunate enough to lead multiple teams in different parts of the United States and every team I've led had different needs from a leadership perspective. To give a specific example, during the beginning of Covid-19 there was a lot of uncertainty around how the business would respond to keep both customers and employees safe. Information that was being passed down often changed multiple times per day and could be overwhelming for the teams absorbing the information.
In order to slow the process down and drive both understanding and comfort I began having open office sessions with my employees where they could come sit down with me and we'd do something like play tic tac toe and take their mind off the chaos, all the while we would talk about concerns they had and I'd share my vision of what's happening and how we can safely handle the changes that were occurring. Not only did this give me an opportunity to connect with my team but it helped us overcome some major hurdles as a team as well.
There is no black and white blueprint for leadership. Throughout my career I've been fortunate enough to lead multiple teams in different parts of the United States and every team I've led had different needs from a leadership perspective. To give a specific example, during the beginning of Covid-19 there was a lot of uncertainty around how the business would respond to keep both customers and employees safe. Information that was being passed down often changed multiple times per day and could be overwhelming for the teams absorbing the information.
In order to slow the process down and drive both understanding and comfort I began having open office sessions with my employees where they could come sit down with me and we'd do something like play tic tac toe and take their mind off the chaos, all the while we would talk about concerns they had and I'd share my vision of what's happening and how we can safely handle the changes that were occurring. Not only did this give me an opportunity to connect with my team but it helped us overcome some major hurdles as a team as well.
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
Costar
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Fowler’s Answer
I think all the feedback here has been helpful. There are a number of ways to demonstrate your leadership, but you asked for a specific example.
My team needed to document the engagement between a couple of groups in our organization. I have done this previously for teams, but I also had my own team who need additional exposure to this work. I assigned the work to two team members as a stretch assignment. They are almost done with this now, and after feedback and review it is looking great. The example may be small, but sometimes it’s allowing your team to take the assignment on their own to deliver. If you do it because you’ve done it before, you have the skills, and it will just be faster you aren’t allowing them to develop those skills. As a leader, developing and strengthening the talent of your team is critical to continued success. Sometimes you have to step back and let growth happen. You get to guide, you get to prompt, and most of all you don’t parachute into it. Trust the team.
My team needed to document the engagement between a couple of groups in our organization. I have done this previously for teams, but I also had my own team who need additional exposure to this work. I assigned the work to two team members as a stretch assignment. They are almost done with this now, and after feedback and review it is looking great. The example may be small, but sometimes it’s allowing your team to take the assignment on their own to deliver. If you do it because you’ve done it before, you have the skills, and it will just be faster you aren’t allowing them to develop those skills. As a leader, developing and strengthening the talent of your team is critical to continued success. Sometimes you have to step back and let growth happen. You get to guide, you get to prompt, and most of all you don’t parachute into it. Trust the team.
I appreciate your support, Fowler
Costar
Updated
Frank’s Answer
Hello Costar,
As many have stated with leadership being something that you show others by example. For work, it can be something as simple as taking the lead on a task that you know needs to be done no matter how small because you are showing your colleagues that your team has expectations to meet and that we all need to pitch in to help. I will constantly be the first one to volunteer to help others with their tasks to make sure we get everything done.
As many have stated with leadership being something that you show others by example. For work, it can be something as simple as taking the lead on a task that you know needs to be done no matter how small because you are showing your colleagues that your team has expectations to meet and that we all need to pitch in to help. I will constantly be the first one to volunteer to help others with their tasks to make sure we get everything done.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Costar
Updated
Angela’s Answer
Hello! Think about your strengths. Leadership skills can be shown in different ways. If you're looking to grow your leadership skills in a job, consider becoming a mentor to someone with less experience than you. This is an unofficial way make you stand out and to prove to others that you have leadership skills! Also, look into leadership development courses at a university or online. I think there may be some free courses available online. Lastly, spend time with leaders in your field of work and in your community. You will probably learn a lot from them.
I appreciate your support, Angela
Costar