Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

How to be perceived as a leader

April 15, 2024

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Being perceived as a leader is not merely a function of title or position as many professionals falsely presume.

Rather, it is a complex interplay of actions, decisions, and interpersonal dynamics that signal your readiness to take the helm.

For peak performers aspiring to climb the ranks in their career, the journey involves more than mastering job-specific skills or accumulating accolades.

It necessitates a deliberate strategy to cultivate a leadership persona recognized and respected by peers, superiors, and subordinates alike.

Leadership is an art form, crafted over time, through experiences, challenges, and consistent demonstration of qualities that inspire, motivate, and drive teams towards a common goal.

In large part, it is about embodying the vision of the future you are striving to create, making decisions with conviction, and earning the trust and respect of those around you.

However, navigating this path requires both ambition and an understanding of the subtle nuances that can elevate your perception from that of a capable contributor to a strategic leader.

Furthermore, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to innovation and an ability to communicate this vision compellingly can influence others to take massive action.

True leaders inspire a sense of purpose and belonging among their teams, fostering an atmosphere where each member feels valued and empowered. This requires a delicate balance of humility and confidence, where the leader is seen as approachable and relatable, yet well grounded in their convictions.

"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

As we delve deeper into the nuances of being perceived as a leader, remember that at its core, leadership is an exercise in human connection, founded on the trust and respect you earn through your actions and interactions.

Here's how.

Pitfalls hurting your leadership game

The transition from being a team member to being viewed as a leader is fraught with subtleties that require not just skill and determination, but also a keen awareness of common traps that can undermine your efforts.

This awareness is the first line of defence against the inadvertent behaviours and decisions that can obscure your leadership potential, instead of highlighting it.

With that in mind, here are 5 mistakes hurting your ability to be perceived as a leader:

→ Failing to listen actively: Leadership is as much about listening as it is about directing. Overlooking the insights, concerns, and contributions of team members can isolate you and diminish your effectiveness as a leader. Active listening fosters respect, trust, and collaboration, essential components of a healthy team dynamic.

→ Neglecting personal growth: Resting on your laurels or becoming complacent about personal development can stunt your leadership trajectory. Continuous learning, openness to feedback, and a commitment to self-improvement are hallmarks of great leaders.

→ Underestimating emotional intelligence (EQ): EQ plays a pivotal role in leadership. The ability to understand and manage your emotions and those of others can enhance your leadership capabilities, improving communication, conflict resolution, and team cohesion.

→ Over-reliance on authority: Leveraging positional power to compel obedience can yield compliance but not commitment. True leadership inspires action through influence, not authority, fostering a culture of mutual respect and shared purpose.

→ Ignoring the power of visibility: Remaining in the shadows or avoiding the limelight can make it difficult for others to recognize your leadership potential. Visibility, through active participation in key projects and company initiatives, is crucial for being perceived as a leader.

3 core strategies to be perceived as a leader

1/ Demonstrate strategic vision

Possessing a strategic vision guides both your actions and inspires those around you to move collectively towards a shared future.

This is where you see beyond the day-to-day operations, anticipating future trends, challenges, and opportunities, and aligning your team’s efforts accordingly. It is about crafting a narrative of where the organization is heading, why it matters, and how each team member plays a crucial role in that journey.

For effective leaders, the ability to project this vision is what separates the truly influential from the merely competent.

Your strategic vision encompasses more than just business objectives; it includes an understanding of the broader industry landscape, technological advancements, and societal shifts. It is also a comprehensive outlook that considers the external forces shaping the market and internal capabilities and culture.

Moreover, a strategic vision is never static; it evolves.

In order to be perceived as a leader, you must stay ahead of the curve, constantly gathering information, reassessing the landscape, and refining your vision.

This agility allows you to pivot when necessary, seizing opportunities and mitigating risks. It is this combination of foresight, flexibility, and action that empowers teams, instills confidence, and drives progress.

When done right, you make your vision accessible and actionable for everyone, from the executive board to the frontline employees. This requires a deep connection with the team, an understanding of the organizational capabilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

To embody and demonstrate strategic vision effectively, you need to navigate between the future's possibilities and the present's realities. It involves inspiring and motivating, yes, but also planning, executing, and adjusting as needed.

Here are 5 steps to put this into action:

→ Craft a clear and compelling vision statement: Start by articulating a clear, concise vision statement that outlines the future direction of the team or organization. This statement should be ambitious yet achievable, providing a clear goal that everyone can rally behind.

→ Communicate your vision widely and frequently: Share your vision through every available channel — meetings, emails, company newsletters, and one-on-one conversations. Ensure that every team member understands the vision and sees how their work contributes to its realization. Repetition and clarity are critical.

→ Align goals and objectives with your vision: Break down the vision into actionable goals and objectives for different teams and departments. Ensure that these goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and aligned with the overall vision.

→ Foster an environment of innovation: Encourage creativity and innovation within your team by promoting a culture where ideas are freely shared, and failure is seen as a stepping stone to success. Innovation should be recognized and rewarded, emphasizing its role in achieving the strategic vision.

→ Monitor progress and adjust as necessary: Implement a system to track progress towards your vision. Use data and feedback to make informed decisions, and be prepared to adjust your strategy in response to new challenges and opportunities. Regularly review and communicate progress to keep the vision at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

2/ Embrace thought leadership

Embracing thought leadership is a transformative strategy focused on establishing yourself as an expert and visionary within your field, contributing ideas, insights, and solutions that advance your industry.

For leaders, it represents an opportunity to not only influence their organization but also shape the broader conversations within their industry. It is also a platform through which you can drive your strategic vision, demonstrating not just what you know, but how you think and, more importantly, how you can lead others towards new opportunities.

Becoming a thought leader is a deliberate process. It involves cultivating a deep understanding of your industry, identifying gaps in the current discourse, and offering new perspectives or solutions.

From here, you are able to contribute valuable content that resonates with your audience, engaging in meaningful conversations, and building a community around shared challenges and aspirations.

This approach not only elevates your professional profile but also enhances your credibility and authority, making you a go-to source for insights and guidance.

As a thought leader, you inspire those around you to think critically, question the status quo, and explore new possibilities.

Embracing thought leadership also requires a strategic approach to content creation and dissemination. Your ideas need a platform to reach and influence your intended audience, whether through professional networks, social media, speaking engagements, or publications.

The goal is to not only share your vision and expertise but to also spark conversations and drive action.

Here are 5 steps to follow:

→ Identify your niche: Pinpoint a specific area within your industry where you can offer unique insights or address unmet needs. Your niche should align with your expertise and passion, setting the stage for genuine and impactful thought leadership. This can be done directly in your company by building on one of your areas of passion or expertise.

→ Create and share valuable content: Start a blog, write articles, facilitate trainings, or produce videos that showcase your insights and solutions to industry challenges. Focus on creating content that adds value, provokes thought, and encourages discussion.

→ Engage with your community: Actively participate in industry forums, social media discussions, and networking events. Listen to the concerns and questions of your peers and contribute your perspective. Building relationships is key to amplifying your voice.

→ Leverage public speaking and workshops: Seek opportunities to speak at industry conferences, webinars, and workshops both through your organization and outside of it. Public speaking allows you to directly engage with your audience, share your vision, and establish your authority in the field, while forging meaningful connections along the way to build your notoriety.

→ Collaborate with other thought leaders: Collaboration can significantly extend your reach and impact. Partner with other experts on research projects, co-author articles, or participate in panel discussions. This not only broadens your network but also introduces your ideas to new audiences.

3/ Foster meaningful relationships

Fostering meaningful relationships within the workplace is a cornerstone strategy for any leader seeking to be viewed not just as a figure of authority, but as a trusted and influential presence.

The ability to build and maintain these relationships transcends traditional leadership duties, tapping into the core of what it means to be a genuinely impactful leader. This approach is rooted in the understanding that at the heart of every successful organization are the connections between its people.

Peak performers recognize the importance of prioritizing these relationships that built trust, respect, and mutual understanding to amplify their effectiveness and performance.

This lies not only in facilitating smoother collaboration but also in creating an environment where employees feel valued, heard, and motivated. Such an atmosphere encourages open communication, innovation, and a strong sense of community.

When team members believe their leaders are genuinely invested in their well-being and professional growth, they are much more likely to be engaged, loyal, and proactive in contributing to the company’s objectives. This dynamic can transform the workplace, leading to higher productivity, morale, and overall job satisfaction.

The process of building these relationships extends beyond the confines of the team or department. It encompasses interactions across the entire organization, from peers to cross-functional colleagues, and even to stakeholders outside the company.

The ability to navigate and nurture a diverse range of relationships speaks to a leader’s emotional intelligence, adaptability, and commitment to a holistic approach to leadership.

Creating and maintaining these relationships also demands a strategic approach. The goal is to cultivate a culture where relationships are not just a means to an end but are valued as essential components of organizational success and personal fulfillment.

Here are 5 action steps to help you foster meaningful relationships:

→ Practice active listening: Show genuine interest in your team members’ ideas, concerns, and feedback. Active listening involves fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively hearing the message. You are not listening to respond but rather, listening to understand. This also opens more doorways for you to bring more value their way.

→ Be accessible and approachable: Make yourself available for your team and encourage open communication. An open-door policy can help in making team members feel that they can approach you with their thoughts, concerns, or ideas at any time.

→ Show appreciation and recognition: Regularly acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and efforts of your team members. Personalized appreciation shows that you recognize and value their contributions, boosting morale and motivation. This is especially important in helping team members feel part of a bigger purpose beyond themselves.

→ Invest in personal development: Take an active role in the professional growth of your team members. Offer mentorship, training opportunities, and career advice. Supporting their development shows that you are invested in their success, both within the company and in their broader career.

→ Build trust through transparency and integrity: Be honest and transparent in your communications. Admitting mistakes, sharing information about changes and decisions, and maintaining confidentiality are all practices that build trust over time.

How will you position yourself as a leader?

As you move forward in building your leadership to influence and inspire others, allow these strategies to shift you into action. The path to impactful leadership is both a challenge and a privilege, so embrace it with enthusiasm and determination. Your ability to inspire, guide, and connect is your greatest strength. Lead boldly, the future is waiting.

You've got this!

This week's mission is aimed at building yourself up as a leader. Through the below prompts and action steps, you will make key strides in the right direction by focusing on impactful levers that positively influence your leadership and influence.

1/ Demonstrate strategic vision:

Draft a vision statement for a project or initiative you are passionate about. Share this vision in a team meeting or email, outlining the impact you believe it can have and how it aligns with broader organizational goals.
Organize a brainstorming session with your team or colleagues to explore innovative ways to achieve the vision. Encourage open dialogue and diverse perspectives to refine your approach and gain buy-in.

2/ Embrace your thought leadership:

Publish a native content post on LinkedIn focused on one of your areas of expertise. Choose a topic relevant to current industry trends or challenges and share your unique perspective. Aim to publish your first post by the end of the week.
Participate in a LinkedIn group related to your field. Contribute to discussions by offering thoughtful comments on others' posts and sharing articles or studies that add value to the conversation.

3/ Foster meaningful relationships:

Arrange informal 1-on-1 meetings with team members or colleagues from different departments. Use this time to learn more about their current projects, challenges, and career goals in the company.
At the end of the week, send personalized thank-you notes or emails to those you met with, highlighting something specific you appreciated about the conversation. This small gesture can strengthen your connections and show your commitment to building meaningful relationships.

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