Being a leader is about more than just being good at what you do. It’s about having the skills, temperament and confidence to inspire and guide others towards a common goal. It’s being able to cultivate a positive work environment where each team member feels valued and motivated to contribute their best. Crucially, the decision to become a leader also has consequences that extend beyond your own professional life. Research show that half of employees with poor managers say that work negatively impacts their mental health, while wider ranging consequences of ineffective leadership includes high turnover and lack of employee motivation. On the flip side, great management has been correlated with increased productivity, higher job satisfaction and stronger team relationships.
With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why the decision to pursue a leadership role requires careful consideration and self-reflection. If you’re on the fence, we’ll run through some of the key qualities that show you might be ready to look for that exciting new role or pursue a promotion!
6 Signs You’re Leadership Material
1) People come to you for advice and support
Maybe you’ve noticed that junior colleagues are increasingly turning to you for guidance, and that you enjoy being able to act as a mentor in nurturing someone else’s career. Your knowledge within your specialism is recognised and respected within your company, and you’re seen as the person to turn to for advice on specific topics. People know that you’ll happily take the time to help, and your ability to analyse situations critically and offer innovative solutions has earned you a reputation as a go-to problem solver. These are all great signs you’re already recognised as an informal leader, so why not make it official?
2) You’re able to challenge and say ‘no’ when it’s appropriate
Maybe your manager has put forward a project idea you don’t think your team is fully equipped to execute, or maybe you feel a team member is being treated unfairly. Either way, in tricky circumstances like these, you’re able to express what you feel is right and offer calm and constructive arguments to support your viewpoint. Moreover, you understand how to stay respectful when challenging, so relationships with your team and senior leadership remain strong. This is a must-have skill for any leadership role, where you’ll need to be able to advocate for your team and navigate difficult situations.
3) You’ve already demonstrated strong leadership skills
Maybe it’s a project you’ve played a key role in, or maybe it’s your ability to train new recruits within your team. Having leadership skills doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve formally taken on the responsibilities of a senior role, just that you’ve demonstrated you have the right skills and characteristics for the challenge. After all, leadership isn't solely about job titles; it's about influence, initiative, and the ability to inspire others. Traits that effective leaders tend to share are:
Confidence
You know you’re good at your job, and you understand what improvements need to be made in order to bring a project to fruition successfully. You stand by your decisions, and management can always count on you to have a firm opinion when it matters.
Excellent communication
You’re great at liaising with the rest of your team, and you keep them updated with your progress and work together on any challenges you’re facing. You don’t hesitate to give praise to others where it’s due, and you understand the importance of working together to solve problems.
Self-awareness
You’re able to understand when you’ve made a mistake or haven’t handled a situation in the right way, and are able to own up to it and take corrective action. You recognise your own strengths and weaknesses, and are always working to improve.
Empathy
You’re able to recognise when other team members or junior hires are struggling with a task, and you’re always ready a willing to help and offer support. You’re able to actively listen to others, and pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues to help understand situations – a key indicator of emotional intelligence.
Resilience
If a project doesn’t pan out quite the way you expected it to, you aren’t put off. Instead, you’re motivated to make improvements and try something different to get the right result. You’re able to take constructive criticism without becoming disheartened, and understand that failure is sometimes a part of growth.
4) You’re able to step outside your comfort zone
Let’s say your manager asks for a member of the team to lead that all-important client presentation. Although you’re not thrilled about the idea, you volunteer nonetheless, as you recognise that putting yourself in uncomfortable situations can sometimes be a vital way to gain new skills. You’re willing to take risks in order to progress, and understand that proving yourself means accepting new challenges. What’s more, if you have gaps in your knowledge, your growth mindset means you view these as opportunities to learn rather than limitations.
5) You receive great feedback from others
People in your immediate team know you’re capable, reliable, and efficient - and everyone else seems to know it, too. Perhaps a member of senior leadership has dropped you a note to let you know they’re impressed with your work, or maybe you’ve received excellent feedback from a client regarding the work you did on a recent project. Receiving rave reviews from others is a clear sign you’re ready to challenge yourself in a more senior role.
6) You’re able to remain calm in a crisis
Your boss asks you to make changes to a pitch deck five minutes before your client meeting? No problem. Your project budget’s been cut, so you need to think outside the box to be able to deliver the same results? Child’s play. Even if you don’t have the solution right away, you’re able to stay calm and think through a problem critically and logically, so your boss will often turn to you for support in difficult times.
What if I don’t want a leadership role?
Not everyone aspires to manage a team, and that’s okay – don’t let yourself be led down a path that isn’t right for you. You might decide to move further into a particular specialism instead, which can be equally as rewarding personally and professionally. For example, let’s say you’re a marketing executive and you know being a marketing manager isn’t for you, you might instead decide to hone your skills in copywriting or graphic design. Specialising in a specific area allows you to become an expert in that field, opening up new opportunities for career advancement and recognition that are just as exciting. Success is a personal definition, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to a rewarding career.
If you don’t feel you tick off every quality on this list, that’s okay – we’re all a work in progress, and the most important thing is maintaining a determination to grow and improve. Keep exploring and learning about yourself; take steps to boost your skills, try new things, and expand your professional network. If you find yourself at a crossroads in your career, it’s the perfect time to speak confidentially with a trusted recruiter. They’ll be able to help you decipher your options and guide you towards a path that fits your skills and ambitions.
Ready to take the next step in your career? You’re in the right place! We’ve hundreds of positions available in industries such as accountancy, human resources, marketing and digital, IT, and many more. Alternatively, you can search all our positions here, or register with us.
