Is Experience the Best Teacher?

Yes, says The Center for Creative Leadership. Their research found that a variety of challenging assignments contribute greatly to the building and seasoning of new and emerging leaders.

However, not all challenges are equal. The ones that will enhance leadership skills are those that:

• Require working with new people or high variety or time pressures.
• Call for influencing people with no or limited direct authority or control.
• Involve building a team, starting something from scratch or solving a problem.
• Demand a “take charge” attitude, quick learning, coping with uncertain situations.

Choose Your Challenges Wisely

It’s not necessary to change one’s job to build leadership capabilities. Rather be on the lookout for or request these kinds of assignments, projects or tasks. They are developmental. In other words, they will help you learn, grow and lead more effectively.

1. Be part of a task force on a pressing business problem
2. Handle a negotiation with a customer
3. Present proposal report to top management
4. Work short periods in other units or departments
5. Plan an off site, meeting or conference
6. Serve on a new project / product review committee
7. Manage the visit of a VIP
8. Go off-site to troubleshoot problems
9. Take a board position at a community organization
10. Be part of the company’s trade show booth team
11. Redesign a work process with another function
12. Resolve conflict among warring subordinates
13. Take over a troubled project and get it back on track
14. Manage projects requiring coordination across the organization
15. Supervise assigned office space in a new building
16. Spend a day with customers and write report
17. Do postmortem on a failed project
18. Evaluate the impact of training
19. Write a proposal for a new system, product, etc.
20. Interview outsiders on their view of the organization

Pick one or two of the above professional development assignments that would help you develop your leadership capabilities now.

Career Success Tip

You learn on the job every day. But are you learning what you really need to learn to develop your leadership and advance your career? It’s up to you to make sure you’re continually improving, growing and learning. It’s up to you to take charge of your professional development.

Do you know what YOU do today will directly influence your career in 3, 5 or 10 years?

• Start right now to be a Career Builder!
• Take charge of your future with the Career Success System.
• Get performance and career boosters in the Smart Moves Blog.
• Copyright © 2011 Marcia Zidle career strategist and leadership coach.