We can all lead. We don’t need a leadership “position”.
In my work with early career professionals I am often challenged by people who can see a need and opportunity to improve their work and their organisation, but are hampered by a perceptual barrier – a belief that they can’t do anything about it. For a long while now I have used some ideas from the Bell Labs in the USA to help people see that they can lead from any position. A start can be to make your own job more impactful: lead by example. Take the initiative!
These ideas are a great way to reflect on what you do and how to do it better.
The following is taken from a great paper – Source: Kelley R and Caplan J (1993) How Bell Labs creates star performers. Harvard Business Review, July-August pp.128
Going beyond the job
- I make the most of my present assignment.
- I do more than I am asked to do.
- I look for places where I might spot problems and fix them.
- I fix bugs that I notice (in programs) or at least tell someone about them.
- I look for opportunities to do extra work to help the project move along more quickly.
New ideas and follow-through
- I try to do some original work.
- I look for places where something that’s already done might be done better.
- I have ideas about new features and other technical projects that might be developed.
- When I have an idea, I try to make it work and let people know about it.
- I try to document what my idea is and why it’s a good idea.
- I think about and try to document how my idea could save the company money or bring in new business.
- I seek advice from people who have been successful in promoting ideas.
- I construct a plan for selling my idea to people in the company.
Dealing constructively with criticism.
- I tell colleagues about my ideas to get their reactions and criticisms.
- I use their comments and criticisms to make my ideas better.
- I consult the sources of criticism to help find solutions.
- I continue to revise my ideas to incorporate my colleagues’ concerns.
Planning for the future
- I spend time planning what I’d like to work on next.
- I look for other interesting projects to work on when my present work gets close to the finish line.
- I talk to people to find out what projects are coming up and will need people.