Taking on a leadership position means taking on new responsibilities and setting an example for your team. Whether you're leading a small team within a larger organization or you're an entrepreneur, you'll be in charge of things like directing, delegating tasks, and creating an environment in which your teammates can do their job best. It's a huge challenge, and it's hard to say if you're really ready. Here are some ways you can tell if you're ready to lead:
1. You can evaluate the skills of others
Think of some of your current colleagues. How would you evaluate them if you had to? Would you say they perform strongly overall, or weakly compared to others on your existing team? Think about that individually and try to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Which skills do they master well, and which do they not? Analyzing employees objectively based on their performance and skills is a critical part of leadership. If you can identify these traits quickly and easily, you're probably ready.
2. You are decisive
Think about the last few decisions you've made, be it big decisions like where to move to or small decisions like where to eat out. How did you handle the situation? Have you chosen something just to get rid of it? Have you evaluated each option and made a decision as soon as possible after you had the available information? Have you thought about it and couldn't make up your mind? Leaders serve as decision makers. They are responsible for making decisions on an almost constant basis, sometimes before all the information is in. You have to make careful decisions, but you also have to make them firm and fast. Keep this in mind when considering a leadership position.
3. You are honest
Start by being honest with yourself. First, ask yourself how often you tell the truth for your own ends – are you exaggerating or twisting the truth for your own gain? Then ask yourself how often you withhold information for the benefit of others. Do you always tell your colleagues that they are doing well, even when they are not? As a leader, you have to be honest – sometimes painfully honest – if you want the best results from your team. Your team should trust you without hesitation and your critically honest feedback is important to develop your team.
4. You are ready to be responsible for the actions of others
This is more of a personal question that you should be able to answer quickly. Think about the last mistake you made – were you responsible for it, did you take full responsibility, or did you try to cover it up? As a leader, you are on a whole new level of responsibility and it is more important than ever that you consider mistakes and failures your own. If you're not ready for that level of responsibility, or if you don't think you can take responsibility for someone else's mistake, now may not be the time to consider a leadership position.
5. People like you
Do you find it easy to get along with your colleagues or do most of them seem to avoid you? This can be a difficult question to answer, but you need to understand your personality type and how your behavior affects others. As a leader, you don't have to be everyone's best friend and there are times when your teammates absolutely disagree with your actions, but in general you need to be someone who respects and values teammates. They should feel comfortable coming to you with problems and challenges, and they should have fun on the team. Being a “sympathetic” person is therefore important.
6. Your life is organized
Think about your personal life. Is your apartment a mess, or is everything in the right place? Do you pay your bills on time, or do you sometimes forget? Do you have a regular routine, or do you wake up at a different time every day? The level of organization in your life is important because it determines how much structure you have for your team. Even if you can succeed without an organized structure, your team will not. Organization brings stability and balance to your team and ensures that everyone is aligned. If you are unable to stay organized in your own life, you may not be ready to set the structural tone for a whole group of other people.
7. You are passionate about your role
This is another personal question that only you can answer. If you move from your current role to a leadership position, it's more than likely that you'll be in the same industry or with the same clients, or working with a similar group of people. Are you passionate about what you do? As a leader, you motivate a team and encourage them to work harder towards a set of goals or ideals. If you're not passionate about those goals and ideals, your team is destined to fail.
If you can answer all of these questions with confidence, chances are you're ready to take the helm and lead a team. Remember, it will take time to build your leadership experience and discover the approach that works best for you and your team.
