There are many ways, but listed below are some things to start doing today. By doing these things, you can position yourself as a leader at work without being too obvious about your ambitions. Taking initiative, practicing effective communication, and staying consistent with your values are just a few ways to gain respect and credibility among your peers.
If you want to become a leader at work and develop your leadership skills, incorporate these actions into your daily routine. With time and persistence, you’ll start to build the kind of leadership presence that naturally inspires others and opens the door to future career growth.
1. Take On More Responsibility At Work
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To become a leader at work, learn to take responsibility for anything that you're interested in and own it. That also means that as long as you participate in that project, you influence whether it fails or succeeds.
Learn to take responsibility for not just the good things, but also the bad things. Take ownership of your mistakes, and know it's okay to be wrong. You cannot learn if you haven't made any mistakes.
By acknowledging where things went wrong and actively seeking solutions, you build trust with your team and demonstrate emotional intelligence, both key leadership qualities. Embracing accountability will set you apart as someone who’s not just involved but truly invested in becoming a successful leader at work.
2. Believe In Win-Win In The Workplace
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A rising tide lifts all boats—always think win-win.
It exists. Just because some may believe the business world is nasty, and that you need to be manipulative and maneuvering to win, you need not participate in it. In fact, make it your priority not to be a negative and manipulative leader.
If you want to be a leader at work, believe in your positive leadership abilities. The positive influence you have on the people around you and the ability to inspire your team are right in front of you.
3. Strive To Push The Envelope
BigstockTry new things. Take some risks. Make yourself uncomfortable. Do the things that may make you look foolish. Seriously, what do you have to lose?
Leaders take risks. They are not afraid of doing what they believe is right. What are you willing to take a risk for? To be a leader at work, you need to take small risks, like taking on a project no one wants. Step up when others step back.
4. If You Have An Idea, Write It Down
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I often say this world is full of people who talk too much and don't do enough.
If you want to be a leader at work, act on something. Work on a plan. If you have ideas simmering in your mind, write them down.
It doesn't matter if your idea doesn't have a plan yet—just write it down. If you don't write it down, there is no record of the idea, and you won't have anything tangible to present. How can it count? If you want to be a leader at work, you have to practice writing down everything.
Strong leaders are proactive, not reactive. Writing down your thoughts helps clarify your vision and gives you a foundation to build on. It also shows initiative—something every successful leader needs to demonstrate consistently. Documenting your ideas is the first step in turning vision into action and action into leadership.
5. See Opportunities Everywhere
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There is no need to create leadership opportunities at work. The opportunities to lead are everywhere already.
You need to be mindful of these opportunities. An example of an opportunity you can capitalize on is taking on a project no one wants. If you don't see opportunities like this everywhere, you are missing the point.
Successful leaders don’t wait for a promotion or a title. They step up when challenges arise. Whether it's volunteering to lead a meeting, mentoring a new team member, or improving an outdated process, these are real-world chances to demonstrate leadership. If you're serious about becoming a successful leader at work, you need to train your mind to recognize and embrace these moments daily.
6. Be Open To Receiving Feedback
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Be open to criticism. Otherwise, you are just living off your own opinions and ideas.
What does being open to criticism mean? When you are open to feedback, you are getting ideas and suggestions from others that are free. Oftentimes, these ideas come from people smarter than you. They will give you tips on how to improve and how to be better.
That's what a leader needs—constant feedback. You need feedback to be a leader at work, otherwise you are "feed-own" (I just created that word to mean feeding yourself) and you will go hungry soon. With no new ideas, a leader dries up.
7. Give Your Work Everything You've Got
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Giving is how you open up at work. Pour out all you got. Express your ideas, thoughts, and plans. Feel the vulnerability and learn to like it.
When you pour all your ideas out, you will need new ones. Where do new ideas come from? They come from critics, from well-meaning supporters, and from the people you least expect. At the end of the day, more comes back to you. You have more to input. It enriches you.
The workplace thrives on the free flow of ideas, and when you lead by giving, you encourage innovation and collaboration. Sharing builds trust, and trust builds influence. The more you give, the more you're seen as someone people want to follow, which is key to becoming a successful leader at work.
These are the seven actions you can do starting today to position yourself as a leader at work. Remember, if you want to be an influential leader, do not be afraid of taking risks. You have more to gain than to lose when you open up.
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