How to Demonstrate Leadership at Work

When I started leading a high-powered recruiting team, I had the traits of the TYRANT leaders I now call out. Here's why: Despite my degrees, certificates, and ongoing professional development, nothing prepared me to transition into leading. I still had an individual contributor (IC) mindset, which unintentionally led me to compete with my very capable team. At the time, I engaged in behaviors like: Taking over projects instead of developing my team. Working long hours, thinking it showed commitment. Making unilateral decisions vs collaborating. Giving orders instead of providing clarity and context. Hoarding information instead of communicating transparently. Prioritizing my metrics over team goals. A month in, my boss at the time sat down with me and told me to own my transition and to stop taking over work when someone asked for help. (she's one of the best Leader's I've ever had) To transform my mindset, I sought out a few internal sponsors and observed how they managed their teams. I also asked my team for feedback on where I could do better. Once I made the changes: mindset and action, I began demonstrating new leadership behaviors: Coaching my team and developing their problem-solving skills. ↳Created an authorization matrix to empower them to make decisions. Promoting work-life balance through prioritization and delegation. ↳I stopped working on vacation to set a better example. Making collaborative decisions to increase buy-in. ↳They worked on the reqs, so I asked for their ideas and where I could implement them. Painting a vision and equipping the team to get there themselves. ↳I translated the organization's vision down to how it affected our team goals. Openly communicating to build trust and transparency. ↳I promoted democratic decision-making and explained when it needed to be autocratic. Aligning on and championing team goals over my individual metrics. ↳I held weekly reviews where I celebrated their success because it was OUR success. Here's what I want you to take from this: 1. Develop your team's skills rather than trying to be the expert. 2. Delegate decisions to increase buy-in and leverage diverse perspectives. 3. Openly share information rather than hoarding knowledge and insight. 4. Recognize and elevate your team's contributions rather than taking individual credit. #aLITTLEadvice #leadership

How to Be Seen as a Leader (Before You Get the Title) I learned this lesson the hard way. If you wait for someone to "see" your leadership potential, you’ll be waiting a long time. Early in my career, I thought doing my job well was enough. I assumed leadership was something given to you when you "earned it." But then I watched less-experienced coworkers get promoted before me. Why? Because they weren’t waiting. They were already moving like leaders before anyone gave them a title. And the data backs this up: 📊 A Harvard Business Review study found that people who demonstrate leadership behaviors before they have a title are far more likely to get promoted. 📊 Only 10% of what makes someone a leader is their technical ability—the rest is visibility, influence, and decision-making (Forbes). 📊 People who "manage up" effectively are 42% more likely to get leadership opportunities. So, if you’re sitting there doing great work but still getting overlooked, here’s how to change that: 1. Fix Problems No One Else Wants I once had a boss who only noticed people who solved problems before they became fires. ↳ Find something your team struggles with and improve it. ↳ No one assigns leadership—you take it. 2. Speak Up with Authority I used to sit in meetings and wait my turn. Bad move. Leaders don’t just talk—they provide clarity. ↳ Instead of saying, “I think we should…” say, ↳ “Based on [data], X is the best path forward because it will [save time/money/resources].” 3. Keep Your Boss in the Loop One of my biggest mistakes? Assuming my manager knew all the great things I was doing. They didn’t. And when promotion time came, guess who they remembered? Not me. ↳ Send short, punchy updates on what you’ve accomplished. ↳ If no one knows your impact, it doesn’t exist. 4. Expand Beyond Your Role The people who get promoted aren’t just doing their jobs—they’re operating at the next level. ↳ Offer to support cross-functional projects. ↳ Build relationships with decision-makers, not just peers. The bottom line? You don’t need a title to move like a leader. And if you start now, when that next promotion opens up, you won’t have to ask for it. They’ll already see you as the obvious choice. #leadership #promotion

📝The moment you stop managing tasks and start empowering people, real leadership begins. Picture this: Many years ago, i got promoted to my first leadership role, sitting in a conference room after a disastrous team meeting. My hands were shaking, coffee gone cold, staring at a project that was falling apart faster than a house of cards. It was my most talented team member, who made me realise something extremely important. After weeks of me managing every detail, she walked into my office and said something I'll never forget: "I don't need you to do my job. I need you to help me become better at it." Those words hit me like a freight train. I realized leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about making everyone else in the room smarter. My job was no longer about: - Completing every task perfectly - Being the technical expert - Proving how much I knew My real job was now about: - Inspiring my team to see their full potential - Coaching them through challenges - Removing obstacles in their path - Celebrating their victories as if they were my own. I started asking different questions: - "What's blocking you from doing your best work?" - "How can I support your growth?" - "What skills do you want to develop?" Suddenly, the team wasn't just working. They were thriving. Within six months, our team's productivity skyrocketed. Not because I was working harder, but because I was leading differently. The truth for every aspiring Leader: When you become a leader, you're no longer judged by what you can do. You're measured by what you can help others achieve. Your success is the sum of your team's potential, unleashed. 🔥 The bottom line is: Your job as a leader is no longer doing the work. It's creating an environment where extraordinary work happens. Are you ready to make that shift? Follow Makarand Utpat for tips on leadership, business and personal branding. Quote by : Leadershipfirst #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #TeamBuilding #CareerAdvice