Five Steps for Women to Gain Leadership Skills

By Ann Kelleher, President

August 2011

Women aspiring to advance on the career ladder must be able to lead others effectively. How can a working woman gain leadership skills?

Here are five proactive choices you can make:

1. Join a professional organization or civic group and volunteer for committee assignments and presentation opportunities. Work your way into chairing a committee. When done successfully, the news of your good work will travel as others provide positive feedback about you to your company’s leadership team.

2. Become active in a Toastmaster’s Club or another group oriented toward helping people build leadership and communication skills. The ability to communicate well is the number one important skill for you to have as a leader.

3. Ask your supervisor during your regular performance evaluation to help you identify ways for you to gain leadership skills. Chart an action plan together. The plan can include helping you find opportunities to participate in more visible roles such as facilitating a group discussion or heading up a project. Additionally, some companies offer internal leadership programs to select employees upon their supervisor’s recommendation.

4. Observe leaders, both inside and outside your organization, who are seen as “movers.” Determine what they are doing that makes them successful. Ask them to share their thoughts with you about what makes a good leader.

5. Acquire a mentor by taking the last suggestion a step further. Seek out someone you admire either inside or outside your organization to be your mentor.  Meet with your mentor on a regular basis to gain their wisdom and insights and talk about how you are progressing with your career goals. It will be a rich experience for both of you.

Remember, building any skill is a process, and will take time and commitment. The results will be worth it!

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