Are You the Leader Your Employees Need?
Publié le 1 February 2012
Are you familiar with the concept of leadership? Though it has become a popular word in the world of work, a little caution is in order: the term is not only widely used, but frequently overused or even misused. Do you know what leadership really is? What does it take to be an effective leader? Most important, how can you develop your leadership skills?
WHY THE FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP?
This concept deserves particular attention from job seekers because many employers are looking for candidates with leadership potential. “Today’s job market favours positive, ambitious, proactive young people who are willing to get involved and demonstrate strength of character and a sense of responsibility,” says Dominique Trudel, Operations Coordinator of Laval University’s Career Centre. Developing your leadership skills can be an advantage if you’re interested in working with organizations that value those qualities.
HOW CAN YOU BECOME AN EFFECTIVE LEADER?
You don’t have to wait until you’re in a management position to start developing your leadership skills; all you need is an interest in being an effective leader and in improving your skills. If that describes you, there are several ways to go about it: for example, you could join a student association, get involved in extracurricular activities, become a team project leader, or head up a volunteer group.
“The idea is to develop your skills by trying out various activities and building on those different experiences,” advises Trudel. She adds that it’s essential to have a good sense of your personal strengths and the aspects of your personality that can influence your colleagues in a positive way.
To improve your leadership style, “you have to be willing to take a good hard look at yourself, to accept constructive feedback from your peers, and to work constantly on improving yourself,” says Lord. As well, a big part of leadership is attitude. When faced with difficult situations, a leader sees them not as obstacles but as challenges—opportunities for the team to improve, to learn new skills and to build team spirit and effectiveness.
By taking time now to develop your leadership skills, you’ll be in a good position to show your current or future employer that you are a valuable asset to their organization! CO
By Mariane Jobin
MARIANE JOBIN is an MBA student and a freelance writer for the Laval University Job Placement Service.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
ulaval.ca, careeroptionsmagazine.com
