Best way to learn leadership skills
Discussion
The best way is to lead people.
Leadership isn't something you can just do an NVQ in (although there probably is an NVQ in leadership). IMO leadership requires certain personality traits which are not the kind of thing that can be trained into someone. They can be developed however, and a good company will have a process in place to recognise those people who can lead, and develop them into leaders.
If your company has that process, then fine. But a lot don't. You can either leave and take a role elsewhere that does have supervisory responsibilities, or attempt to build your current role to take in some of that responsibility.
Leadership isn't something you can just do an NVQ in (although there probably is an NVQ in leadership). IMO leadership requires certain personality traits which are not the kind of thing that can be trained into someone. They can be developed however, and a good company will have a process in place to recognise those people who can lead, and develop them into leaders.
If your company has that process, then fine. But a lot don't. You can either leave and take a role elsewhere that does have supervisory responsibilities, or attempt to build your current role to take in some of that responsibility.
The company I work for doesn't have that in place (yet) but is growing fast so there might be the opportunity for this in the near future.
Had a go at the Myers Brigg test just now, and got this result:
INTJ
Introvert(22%) iNtuitive(50%) Thinking(1%) Judging(1%)
You have slight preference of Introversion over Extraversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
You have marginal or no preference of Thinking over Feeling (1%)
You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)
Interesting stuff!
Thanks
Had a go at the Myers Brigg test just now, and got this result:
INTJ
Introvert(22%) iNtuitive(50%) Thinking(1%) Judging(1%)
You have slight preference of Introversion over Extraversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
You have marginal or no preference of Thinking over Feeling (1%)
You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)
Interesting stuff!
Thanks
I learned the hard way. 2years in a managerial/leadership position where suddenly being an amazing performer wasn't enough I had to inspire others. Trust delegation, training feedback and praise are all important traits that need to be given/used. I'v had truely inperational leaders in my time and terrible ones. One so bad it made me leave a job I loved. There are few companies that do leadership training but it is worth its weight in gold imo and is a skill that is massivly undervalued.
davepoth said:
... a good company will have a process in place to recognise those people who can lead, and develop them into leaders ...
The company I work for has these processes but, after taking you away from your desk and showing you that you can be an astronaut, then shoves you back to your desk and expects you to carry on as though nothing has changed. I got INTJ in the Myers Briggs test - 'creative strategist' was the definition it came up with for me, which perfectly describes my mindset, but my current employer has no interest in developing me into a role which would exploit this to their and my advantage.Sport, hobbies, real life? All of these things will have taught to you interact and lead people at times. Look back at what you've done throughout your life and learn from it. You may be surprised at what you have achieved and the skills that you developed.
I guess you've also been lead too? What have you learnt from that, good, bad and the ugly
Loads of professional development stuff you can do too, there's bound to be some good Ted Talks on this sort of stuff
Oh, and get out and do it, you'll make some mistakes along the way yet learn loads!
I guess you've also been lead too? What have you learnt from that, good, bad and the ugly
Loads of professional development stuff you can do too, there's bound to be some good Ted Talks on this sort of stuff
Oh, and get out and do it, you'll make some mistakes along the way yet learn loads!
I'd echo the other posters. The best way to learn leadership skills is through taking on more leadership responsibility. This doesn't have to be through taking on a supervisory role at work - it could be extracurricular to begin with - youth groups, team sports etc - or through taking on a side project or role at work, like a staff forum or social committee.
The Chartered Management Institute has various courses from junior to senior management. I am doing their level 5 diploma and it's an education, to say the least, particularly as I have some experience. It's much easier to learn if you can put things into practice.
I'd also like to add, having seen it from both sides (I need to develop successors), if you need to be encouraged or pushed to develop an overt interest in leadership, then in my opinion you're not yet leadership material. It's not for your employer to decide how to shape your career development - managers aren't chosen or made, up to a point they need to make themselves. Who is going to tell you what to do once you're the boss? You can't wait for a prompt then ...
The Chartered Management Institute has various courses from junior to senior management. I am doing their level 5 diploma and it's an education, to say the least, particularly as I have some experience. It's much easier to learn if you can put things into practice.
I'd also like to add, having seen it from both sides (I need to develop successors), if you need to be encouraged or pushed to develop an overt interest in leadership, then in my opinion you're not yet leadership material. It's not for your employer to decide how to shape your career development - managers aren't chosen or made, up to a point they need to make themselves. Who is going to tell you what to do once you're the boss? You can't wait for a prompt then ...
When our family company was bought out by a plc I was sent on this (at 24) - Nader a man of me
http://www.britishexpertise.org/bx/pages/Organisat...
2 people quit during the week and a few cried their eyes out
http://www.britishexpertise.org/bx/pages/Organisat...
2 people quit during the week and a few cried their eyes out
You cant really teach leadership like a subject, its something that is developed over time by experience ...usually experience of challenging situations where you push yourself, analyse and learn from it. Once you understand the fundamentals much comes down to understanding others, and understanding yourself.
Maybe join the reserve forces in your spare time, there are endless opportunities for (paid for) training and experience. Imagine someone paying you to undertake some of the best leadership development training available. I did 15 years in the TA progressing through the ranks of NCO before taking a commission, and it really helped in my civvie career. I've been managing people for over 20 years now and in more of a leadership role for the last 9.
Maybe join the reserve forces in your spare time, there are endless opportunities for (paid for) training and experience. Imagine someone paying you to undertake some of the best leadership development training available. I did 15 years in the TA progressing through the ranks of NCO before taking a commission, and it really helped in my civvie career. I've been managing people for over 20 years now and in more of a leadership role for the last 9.
Watch and learn from others and jump in the deep end. You will mess up on occasions but all part of the learning process.its horrible messing up as a leader but admitting you messed up goes a long way.
I got INTJ on the test and makes fascinating reading. The relationships part was especially interesting as I've never seen a personality test like this cover non work related stuff. Pretty eye opening as its true.
I got INTJ on the test and makes fascinating reading. The relationships part was especially interesting as I've never seen a personality test like this cover non work related stuff. Pretty eye opening as its true.
95Aero said:
The company I work for doesn't have that in place (yet) but is growing fast so there might be the opportunity for this in the near future.
Had a go at the Myers Brigg test just now, and got this result:
INTJ
Introvert(22%) iNtuitive(50%) Thinking(1%) Judging(1%)
You have slight preference of Introversion over Extraversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
You have marginal or no preference of Thinking over Feeling (1%)
You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)
Interesting stuff!
Thanks
A fast growing company is ideal; the structure is much less fixed and you can often jump a bit up the ladder if you pick your route carefully. Had a go at the Myers Brigg test just now, and got this result:
INTJ
Introvert(22%) iNtuitive(50%) Thinking(1%) Judging(1%)
You have slight preference of Introversion over Extraversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
You have marginal or no preference of Thinking over Feeling (1%)
You have marginal or no preference of Judging over Perceiving (1%)
Interesting stuff!
Thanks
Talk to everyone in the business and try to find out where the growth opportunities are. If something looks especially promising, do your best to take it on. With any luck it will grow fast enough to require more than one person to look after it, and since you're already doing it, they'll likely be taking orders from you.
slipstream 1985 said:
Not the same kind of management imo. You will learn organisation, effeciancy discipline and loyaty but ex forces do not make good managers IMO. Ex forces people i hve found hve been goo to manage though.
Harvard have a contrary view on this: https://hbr.org/product/which-of-these-people-is-y...And here: https://hbr.org/2010/10/the-value-of-military-skil...
The ex forces thing depends really.
I used to work with a lot of them due to my old job and some were exceptional people and very team orientated, mostly due to their job in the forces. Problem solving and general reaction to SHTF incidents was excellent. I learnt a lot from those guys. Out of 20-30 guys maybe 4 or 5 really stood out and to this day I still try and follow how they did things.
Some of the others who were not "team guys" were clearly not leaders or team players. They were carrot and stick types. But - that can be very helpful in business also.
And this is where being a good manager or leader comes in - you have to be able to look at people and see their strengths and weaknesses. It can be hard to do! I spent quite a number of years working my way up the ladder and thought I was a good leader and I was leading a team at certain points. But, the big step up was running my own business. This has taught me real leadership skills. Decision making at low and high levels every single day - planning, executing etc. I have no formal training other than the odd "weekend course in management" (read p*ss up in a hotel) type things I used to get sent on.
And lastly, in big business - its not what you know - but who you know. Sad but in 90% of cases you wont get up the ladder unless you are "inside" the circle. I was a "team leader" at points in my old job and this was all well and good but I was out of the management loop, the project managers and regional managers never quite let me in that far. I remember one time in particular that I was a senior engineer and the project manager was away for a few weeks. The regional manager wanted some fairly serious work doing and he went underneath me to one of the guys in what we called "the smokers club"... anyway - to cut a long story short he had no background like me, he had no formal quals, he had less XP than me.... but he was already inside. It was at that moment I started to look for an exit. I left about 6 months later to start my own business. That for me is knowing when you are never going to reach your goals - I knew that was it - I was never going to get any further and I decided to step sideways.
8 years later I am fairly happy I made the switch - but being a leader is hard work and your 9-5 will probably be over depending on the set up of the company.
I used to work with a lot of them due to my old job and some were exceptional people and very team orientated, mostly due to their job in the forces. Problem solving and general reaction to SHTF incidents was excellent. I learnt a lot from those guys. Out of 20-30 guys maybe 4 or 5 really stood out and to this day I still try and follow how they did things.
Some of the others who were not "team guys" were clearly not leaders or team players. They were carrot and stick types. But - that can be very helpful in business also.
And this is where being a good manager or leader comes in - you have to be able to look at people and see their strengths and weaknesses. It can be hard to do! I spent quite a number of years working my way up the ladder and thought I was a good leader and I was leading a team at certain points. But, the big step up was running my own business. This has taught me real leadership skills. Decision making at low and high levels every single day - planning, executing etc. I have no formal training other than the odd "weekend course in management" (read p*ss up in a hotel) type things I used to get sent on.
And lastly, in big business - its not what you know - but who you know. Sad but in 90% of cases you wont get up the ladder unless you are "inside" the circle. I was a "team leader" at points in my old job and this was all well and good but I was out of the management loop, the project managers and regional managers never quite let me in that far. I remember one time in particular that I was a senior engineer and the project manager was away for a few weeks. The regional manager wanted some fairly serious work doing and he went underneath me to one of the guys in what we called "the smokers club"... anyway - to cut a long story short he had no background like me, he had no formal quals, he had less XP than me.... but he was already inside. It was at that moment I started to look for an exit. I left about 6 months later to start my own business. That for me is knowing when you are never going to reach your goals - I knew that was it - I was never going to get any further and I decided to step sideways.
8 years later I am fairly happy I made the switch - but being a leader is hard work and your 9-5 will probably be over depending on the set up of the company.
slipstream 1985 said:
Not the same kind of management imo. You will learn organisation, effeciancy discipline and loyaty but ex forces do not make good managers IMO. Ex forces people i hve found hve been goo to manage though.
Often mistaken, leadership is not management.Managers for want of a better analogy are shepherds managing their flock.
Leaders are people who others choose to follow.
Different skill set all together, and one borne out of charisma.
K.
Warmfuzzies said:
slipstream 1985 said:
Not the same kind of management imo. You will learn organisation, effeciancy discipline and loyaty but ex forces do not make good managers IMO. Ex forces people i hve found hve been goo to manage though.
Often mistaken, leadership is not management.Managers for want of a better analogy are shepherds managing their flock.
Leaders are people who others choose to follow.
Different skill set all together, and one borne out of charisma.
K.
If you break down leadership it boils down to being the alpha of a group.
Now as the alpha of a group, your peers accept and respect your position and accept that as the alpha of the group you have "perks" such as higher salary, larger office (altho i don't believe in separate offices for leaders however this is another chat). However what seems to be forgotten is that by being the alpha, should there ever be "danger" which effects the integrity of the overall group it's your job to relinquish your perks and throw yourself in to resolve any danger that effects the group. Just watch a discovery show on lion prides to see this executed to perfection.
This is why the general population has such a massive issue with Banksters. They yield all the benefits of their position but will sacrifice their peers when danger threatens the integrity of the group, it has NOTHING to do with the size of their bonus of salary.
So to sum up, it's understanding that your job is to give more than you take & protect your peers at your own expense and not the other way around. if they can identify this, you will have their upmost respect and productivity.
Michael H
Now as the alpha of a group, your peers accept and respect your position and accept that as the alpha of the group you have "perks" such as higher salary, larger office (altho i don't believe in separate offices for leaders however this is another chat). However what seems to be forgotten is that by being the alpha, should there ever be "danger" which effects the integrity of the overall group it's your job to relinquish your perks and throw yourself in to resolve any danger that effects the group. Just watch a discovery show on lion prides to see this executed to perfection.
This is why the general population has such a massive issue with Banksters. They yield all the benefits of their position but will sacrifice their peers when danger threatens the integrity of the group, it has NOTHING to do with the size of their bonus of salary.
So to sum up, it's understanding that your job is to give more than you take & protect your peers at your own expense and not the other way around. if they can identify this, you will have their upmost respect and productivity.
Michael H
Edited by shigs on Monday 23 February 09:49
Edited by shigs on Monday 23 February 09:49
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