Ready to Lead? 3 Ways to Evolve from Manager to Leader

As my word of the year, evolve, can mean many different things to many people. To develop and build skills in their career. Or transform into a new role altogether. Or maybe it is personal to expand and grow in other areas in their lives that fulfill them. 

One area I often hear from clients and audiences is the desire for career growth, with a goal of moving up in the company to become a leader. 

Evolving takes time and effort to grow, learn, expand experiences, and unfold to be the best you can be. This evolution will not happen overnight or is not automatic. It is intentional and focused. So, if you want to evolve into a leader someday, here are 3 tips to get you started in your evolution journey. 

1. Find clarity to determine where you want to go and what you want to achieve next in your career journey. How do you want to evolve? Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve?

2. Who can assist you in getting there?  Having a career sponsor and/or mentor to support and guide you is priceless for bouncing ideas off, taking in their wisdom, and being challenged in a safe space.

3. Experience is everything when growing. Have an idea to overcome a challenge? Suggest a solution plan and lead it. See an opportunity to grow? Raise your hand and volunteer to be involved. Cross-train in any and all positions to appreciate the skills, talents, and contributions of all team members to the success of the entire team. Take a class quarterly at local associations, community college, or even online. Keep growing and learning.  

Remember, being a leader is not about having a fancy corner office and the luxury of telling people what to do. Leaders have many layers of responsibilities as well as human beings to motivate, lead, and support. A true leader is caring and supportive, ensuring the team’s needs are met so the team can succeed in their role.  As you advance in experience, you can lead at every level of your career by being self-sufficient, a team player, supportive of team goals, and going the extra mile even when no one is looking. If you would liketo be a leader, share this with those around you. Ask about career opportunities and shadowing with leaders and other managers.  Determine what you can do or achieve to evolve on your journey. Create a pathway for yourself, or find the career path that your company defines as a launching point. 

Your path may be unique, unexpected and uncharted. It may not be like other paths or what others expect from you. There are many technological and operational advancements that may open up new career paths that have yet to be explored. 

As you evolve, stay in touch with yourself to gauge how you are feeling, ensuring you are going down the right path or need support to be successful.

As I began my career, I started in an entry-level leasing position and proved to be sales-driven, persistent, consistent in customer follow-up, and a proven self-starter. If successful, the next logical advancement was to be the assistant, then the property manager. As I wanted to “stretch” myself, I asked for growth opportunities and took on the accounting tasks along with other administrative responsibilities; however, I found myself feeling bogged down as I was thinking about (and missing) the people connections, leading marketing efforts, and the leasing training I had previously been working on. That was my signal that I was going down the wrong path. After reflection and with a wonderful manager who saw my gifts in marketing and training, she assisted me with opportunities to train others in our region and, later, nationally, as well as to take on more responsibilities in marketing real estate assets. I was thriving and applying my skills and talents as my strength. When work did not seem like “work,” it was a joy and fun, for I was doing what I was gifted at, which was a huge sign I was heading down the right path for me.  

On your journey to evolve into a leader, be ready to ask for what you need, surround yourself with those who can support you, break down walls, and create your own path.  Remember, growth is not automatic. It is intentional. Set your plan and get going!