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To be a great leader takes practice. Yes, there are some people that are born gifted leaders but we can all learn to be effective leaders. A challenge that people in non-management positions commonly face is how to get that experience while not in a management role at work or while owning a one person business. The good news is that there are several ways and everyone should be able to take advantage of at least one of these suggestions.
If you’re still in school or pursuing a degree while working, there are two big opportunities for you. The best thing you can do is get involved with student organizations, preferably in a leadership role. The higher the position (President vs. V.P. Membership) and the bigger the organization, the better – but any leadership role, even in a small organization, will help.
The second option available to those in school comes with group projects. Volunteer to take the lead when possible but be careful not too be too pushy – you don’t want your teammates to think you’re trying to be bossy.
If you’re not in school, you can always join a club or volunteer organization and get yourself into a leadership position. I initially joined Toastmasters International back in 2002 and within nine months was elected President of my club. The following year, I was an Area Governor where I oversaw five clubs. Look on the web, check your phone book under “clubs and organizations” or ask your librarian about clubs in your area – you’re bound to find something that piques your interest. There are also service clubs such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and whole lot of others.
The experience you can get in these clubs is priceless. In addition to leadership skills, you’ll also learn:
- Presentations and public speaking
- Networking
- Conflict resolution
- Fundraising
- Marketing
- Operations management
- Budgeting
- Time management
- Interpersonal relations
- Team building
- Goal setting
Another option is to join your local Chamber of Commerce and volunteer to be on one of the many committees that they have. I was an Ambassador with my local chamber which helped me meet new and existing members as well as overcome my anxiety of walking up to a stranger an introducing myself.
The last opportunity I’ll cover is local boards. Whether it’s an elected office such as your town’s board of selectmen or getting on the board of your local library, these opportunities can get you valuable experience (as well as important contacts). So look to get involved when an opportunity opens up.
So there are a lot of places that you can valuable management and leadership experience when you can get it at work. Take advantage of these opportunities and use them to fine tune your skills. Then use your accomplishments and achievements to sell your leadership skills.
Check out these Related posts:
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6 users commented on " Leadership – How to get experience "
February 10 2008
Thank you for submitting your post to Carnival Of Tips!
Great ideas, especially for students. These are the positions that look great on resumes and set you apart. Thank you for the tips!
April 6 2008
[...] a formal role in our job. This post lists some ways to overcome this obstacle. James Feudo presents Leadership – How to get experience posted at Overnight [...]
May 7 2008
[...] you to meet all the members of the club. All officer positions can give you opportunities for experience that you might not be able to get in your job. This all translates to valuable resume building [...]
February 27 2009
[...] want people that they can grow to become future leaders so it’s a huge plus if you can demonstrate that you’re a doer, not a watcher. If you’re not already, get involved with at least one student club or organization. If you’re [...]
June 8 2009
[...] cool thing about high school is that it’s a period of learning and transition. And despite the pressure to fit in, it’s a relatively safe environment to make mistakes – [...]
June 19 2009
[...] so it’s important to get your skills in order. Not sure how to get those skills, check out my post on how to get experience. These tips are especially helpful if you’re unemployed or under-employed and looking to make [...]