Are you eagerly anticipating the day you advance to the c-suite so you can become a respected leader? If so, I suggest you settle into a comfortable chair and prepare yourself for a long, long wait. The truth is – leadership doesn’t begin in the c-suite. In order to be successful you need to begin developing influence from the moment you cross the threshold of your organization. Gaining respect, influence and credibility is something that you foster throughout your career and it is what propels you into an executive role, not the other way around.
Leadership is often defined as the ability to gain followers and the ability to influence those around you to the extent that their lives are improved by your presence. If you begin your tenure at a company by making others feel heard and understood, then you have already established your influence among them.
How can you develop influence from the ground floor? If you’re just starting with an organization, develop influence by being present and listening. Take the time to get to know fellow employees. Ask about their families. Learn more about what they do at the company and how your roles and decisions affect yours. Create meaningful conversations that make them feel valued and respected in your eyes. Rather than just furiously looking down and taking notes during meetings, make eye contact. Don’t begin mentally drafting your response while the other person is still talking, simply listen and acknowledge what they have said. Once they’ve finished speaking, pause and then give a proper response that recognizes the value of the information they shared with you and shows that you were truly listening to them.
Consistency is key. Once you’ve created a connection with those around you, make sure to foster it. There is no quicker way to lose credibility and influence than changing how you engage with co-workers, peers and leadership. Staying connected, interested and helpful will pay off in increased influence.
Let us not forget the greatest way one can establish influence – by being transparent and sharing. Never get too busy or too self-important to share what you know with others. The greatest manager I ever had involved me in all of her projects from my first day with the company. From the start I sat in on meetings, learned how projects were managed, who to go to with questions, how to analyze data and all of the nuances that went into being successful within the organization. When she left for another company, I was able to seamlessly transition into taking over her responsibilities. I already had the confidence of my coworkers and other managers because they had seen me working beside her from the first day rather than under her.
Finally, establish influence by creating a strong, authentic presence. It’s tempting to be a wallflower in the early days as you are learning and developing. Resist the temptation and speak up. Asking the right questions makes you look smart and is just as important as having the right answers. Be seen as the employee who is eager to learn and grow. Your influence isn’t just about what you already know – it’s about what you’re willing to do and your potential. The employee who fades into the woodwork doesn’t exhibit much potential. Influence others with your vitality and the desire to succeed and grow.
The C-suite isn’t as far away as most of us imagine it to be. Your training and influence to advance to it begins from the moment you step foot into an organization. Establish yourself early on as someone who not only wishes to succeed but also cares for others, listens well, shares what they know and asks questions about the things they don’t know. You’ll quickly find yourself not only developing influence but also advancement opportunities.
Don’t just BE leadership material, be SEEN as leadership material