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Being a leader in the workplace is not a skill reserved only for managers, and C-level executives. Leadership skills can actually be learned by anybody, it doesn’t matter what your role in the company is. Acquiring and honing this skill can help you enormously on your career path. 

But what does it take to be a leader in the workplace, and what makes a great leader?

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Begin with yourself

Before you even start thinking about climbing the corporate ladder, you first need to examine yourself deeply to determine whether you have the traits and skills required for the next step. This can mean working on soft skills such as effective communication, organization, time management, delegation, etc. Or hard skills such as learning to use a new tool or software. Without these skills, there is no way you will become a good leader, let alone a great one. 

Add value

The soft and hard skills you want to choose to work on, are those that bring the most value to your company. Would it make more sense to improve your cold-calling skills, or would it be better if you worked on your sales? Does your company rely on specific software that you can become an expert on? When you acquire a skill that adds value to your organization, you will automatically be on top of their list when it comes to promotions. 

Adopt a growth mindset

Leaders view challenges and difficulties not as setbacks, but as opportunities to grow and improve. Adopting a growth mindset means welcoming difficulties with open arms because they will push you to be better, and it is through this mindset that you will be able to inspire others to follow you wherever you lead. 

Recognize accomplishment

Publicly recognizing when others do an excellent job is crucial for any leader. This encourages people to keep up the good work and may drive them to become even better. After all, as a leader, you are there to serve your team. Adopting a true team mindset and celebrating individuals within that team will lead your organization to success.

Focus on your goals

Being goal-oriented is an important part of being a leader. After all, if there’s no goal then what would you need a leader for anyway? And so if you want to be a great leader you must be able to think strategically about what you want to achieve and how you will be doing it. You must also consider your team’s strengths and weaknesses, and delegate appropriately in order to get things done. Additionally, you must have the energy and willpower to work toward the goal and keep everybody motivated. 

Most importantly, recognize that becoming a great leader takes years of learning and practice. Knowing that you can always grow and improve your skills will make you the best leader you can be.