How to own your Leadership Development at Work

How to own developmentyour leadershipat work

The pandemic has pushed back your career goals and the promotion you were focused on. You mapped out your vision board but the months have slipped by and you’re feeling like you’re no further forward. Time to take matters in your own hands and have a mindset reset! Ask yourself;

• How can I take ownership of my goals at work? • How can I get the support needed to achieve? • How can I be more visible? • How can I make sure that I stay on track with the goals?

You’ll notice all the questions are focused on what YOU can do. Women often overlook that they can actually take control of their own personal development. You don’t have to wait for your employer to map out your future and you can get increased returns when you take charge of your own personal development.

Here a few actions to help you;

1. Utilize your weekly/monthly reviews - Discuss your goals with your manager to gain their buy-in and support. If you don’t already have regular meetings, request to have a quick meeting with your immediate manager. Be prepared, clearly outline what your aspirations are for the next 6-12 months and the support you are requesting. Make sure you also highlight how a more developed you can support the business.

2. There’s no such thing as a free lunch – Not every employer provides time for personal development, but that doesn't mean that you can't take that into your own hands. Give yourself some study time by utilizing your lunch break - use one of those hours to expand your knowledge by reading articles, listening to podcasts etc.

3. Stick to your plan – Create your own 90 day personal development plan. Thinking 12 months ahead can be daunting and we lose impetus as the reward seems so far away, so break it down. Focus on the goals for the next 90 days. Highlight, the actions you can discuss in your manager in your 121’s and during your team meetings. Identify ways you can get support, consider how you and your team members can help each other to achieve your individual and organizational goals.

4. Your Boss, doesn’t have to spend money on you - When we talk about development, our minds often turn to formal study, college, university etc. In this climate a lot of organizations have limited budgets for development, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Consider innovative ways to develop your learning, listen to podcasts, download free e-books, read articles (just like you’re doing now), check out the free courses offered by LinkedIn, even talking to somebody in another department is learning.

5. Find a mentor - If your goal is to become a leader, how much do you really know about what it takes to be a success? Reality versus the fantasy of leadership can differ greatly, not just for individuals but also by industry. So find yourself a mentor, somebody you can have a really frank discussion about what the roles you aspire to and how did they get ahead? What do they recommend you do to help you to move you forward? In the ideal scenario, you’d have an ongoing relationship with a mentor but if your target feels unable to commit, request a meeting and make sure you’re armed with the questions you'd like answers to that will further your development. 6. Make the most of your manager meetings – I’m returning to my first point regarding one to ones. It may seem tedious to have these meetings, but this is your time. When else do you have the opportunity to influence someone who can help further your career to demonstrate how good you are at your job? Be honest, how engaged you are during this time? This is the time, to lay out what support you need from your Boss, not just answer their questions. Prepare yourself and the questions you want to ask. If your Manager gets distracted in your meetings, identify ways you can control the environment – meet in a breakout room or canteen way from their desk, hold the meeting at your desk, politely ask if you can both focus on the conversation as you have a number of questions you’d like to ask. If they’re that busy then it’s even more imperative that you make your meeting really beneficial and really listen to the response to your requests - what words are being used, the nuances of body language etc. so that you identify a different way to approach the subject.

7. Thank you for being a friend – There is power in peer partnerships that is liaising with a colleague in a different part of the business, maybe doing a role you aspire to. Have a chat with them, speak to their manager, speak to your manager to see if there is a way you can spend some time with them, shadowing or a job swap.

Simple but powerful actions all in your control and move you from career stagnation to progression.

Janice Sutherland is Founder and CEO of the award winning leadership and personal development consultancy This Woman Can – the platform for professional women to network and elevate their careers. With a professional leadership career spanning over 25 years with prestigious multinationals in the UK and Caribbean, she made history when she became the first female CEO in the Telecoms Sector in Antigua and Barbuda with Digicel. She is the author of international best-seller This Woman Can - The no bullsh*t guide for women who lead, host of the This Woman Can Podcast, sharing the leadership journeys of Caribbean Diaspora women and a sought after keynote presenter.

Email: info@janicesutherland.com Website: http://janicesutherland.com Book: This Woman Can – The no bullsh*t guide for women who lead Podcast: This Woman Can LinkedIn: iamjanicesutherland