Growing Leaders: Leveraging Early-Career Leaders For An Innovative Future
Early career leaders have historically felt discouraged in their pursuit for leadership growth within the corporate space. Positions of leadership or power had typically been awarded to more senior leaders. An election into corporate leadership was based on a candidate’s track record of success, seniority within a company, and their ability to drive corporate goals. In fact, many corporations had even tested for a leader’s competency within specific abilities that aligned with the overall corporate vision. The process left early career leaders feeling underqualified for leadership roles despite having the drive or ability to make a difference. As leadership evolves, we are finding that corporations are challenging the leadership model of the past in favor of one that has been harnessed by the non-profit sector for years. Refreshingly, this leadership model awards opportunity to more age-and-experience-diverse candidates.
As it relates to non-profits, leadership has always been awarded based on the organization’s need to fill positions with volunteers and fueled by those willing to put forth their time. Senior leaders within those non-profits have trusted that early career leaders will learn the ropes through experience and, truthfully, the need to fill positions was greater than the need to reserve those positions for the more seasoned candidate to come along.
Leadership Is An Attitude, Not Just A Title
Dianne Clarke-Kudless, Psy.D., member of the Leadership Forum community with years of experience in political, corporate, and non-profit sectors, believes that it has been notoriously easier to enter the structure of a non-profit and assume leadership responsibility. “The non-profit sector is a place where an aspiring leader can test themselves. Volunteer participants are encouraged to align with a group that reflects their goals, whether that is The Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, a biking club, or Rotary Club. The reason leadership opportunities are plentiful for early career leaders is that the life cycle of a volunteer tends to be shorter and opportunities to work on projects, large or small, become available more readily than those in a corporate environment. Dianne believes that “leadership is not only a “title”; it is an attitude of self-confidence, goal-focused interest, group loyalty and dependability.” In the experience of Dr. Clarke-Kudless, those who are most aligned with the organization’s goals and passion continue to do well as their leadership experience grows.
This observation echoes my personal experience as a National Support Services Coordinator volunteer with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association more than 10 years ago. Despite having transferrable skills, working toward a Master’s Degree, and wanting to make a difference in the world, I hadn’t felt qualified enough to pursue leadership until I looked to the non-profit space. At RESOLVE, I was given the opportunity to challenge the mental model around rising to leadership – and was rewarded right from the start– with a national level leadership role. So why are corporations now pivoting in the way they elect and grow their leaders? The answer is a need to innovate for future, sustainable growth.
What This Means For Corporations
Corporations are realizing that the path to an innovative future lies within a younger generation of leaders. “Some of the most progressive companies, many of which are our clients, are challenging the old mindset by giving leadership opportunities to a more age-and-experience-diverse pool of candidates. They are setting early career leaders up with stretch assignments that showcase their strengths, looking at careers as a portfolio of experience and potential, and tapping talent earlier in their career so they can grow with the organization,” says UpSpiral Leadership® co-founder, Sue Covelli-Buntley. Instead of earning to lead, rising leaders are now being presented the opportunity of leading to earn. “The benefits of leveraging younger leaders are fresh ideas, diverse perspectives being brought to the table, and greater willingness to collaborate or share leadership. This is exactly what we, at UpSpiral Leadership®, are finding the world needs,” she continues.
Ways To Grow In Your Leadership
The best way forward for aspiring leaders is to know themselves, others, and the organizations they are representing. Here are some considerations for mapping out your pursuit for leadership growth:
Show gratitude for your leadership journey thus far. Understand which stretch assignments, experiences and achievements, regardless of where you earned them, have contributed to your leadership growth.
Recognize your individual leadership strengths. Are you great at coaching others? Do you listen to understand your teammates? Have you faced specific challenges that give you a unique perspective to prepare for where you are now? These strengths are your unique superpowers and are the fuel to help you lead into the future.
Set a clear leader intention. Express why you are a good fit and how you desire to grow within your organization as it relates to helping others succeed. Tie each aspect of your leadership strengths and potential to outcomes for the organization.
Take on leadership in all areas of your life. Whether you seek out corporate, non-profit, political or elected leadership, every experience helps. Leadership is not about having followers, big projects, or fancy titles. “Leadership in an organization reflects the confidence others have in you. Therefore early experiences in organizations are important to building that confidence. Variety shows versatility and may also demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow in new situations,” advises Dr. Clarke-Kudless.
With this new mental model around leadership growth, aspiring leaders can expand their opportunities by leveraging experiences that best speak to their strengths and passions. If you’re looking for a coach to guide you toward leadership growth and opportunity, schedule a discovery call with UpSpiral Leadership® today.