How to Become a Leader at Work

How to become a leader at work? This video unpacks a common three-step process that moves individual contributors to leadership positions in the workplace.
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1. Become a great individual contributor
2. Lead by example
3. Apply for leadership positions
It sounds simple but many people falsely assume if they just do their job well as an individual contributor that somebody will eventually promote them. Without the key middle step of leading by example--a crucial leadership development step--it is unlikely that you will rise to leadership positions very quickly.

[@alexanderlyon]

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[@ryanturcotte1018]

I seen this video 6 months ago. I was about 8 months in a new job wrenchn on locomotives with no experience.. 2 weeks ago I was promoted to the Lead hand position. Thanks for the knowledge. Stay golden

[@alexanderlyon]

Great news, Ryan. Congratulations on the promotion. Keep leading by example.

[@ryanturcotte1018]

Thank you sir.

[@FleetTech97]

Any advice? I’m a fellow heavy duty mechanic. Looking to get into a lead hand position as well. I’m following his advice but just thought I’d see if you had any job specific tips

[@LetFreedomRing777]

I agree with you on leading by example. People limit themselves by saying "I just want to do my job and do it well." That labels you as a worker bee, not a leader. Leaders are problem solvers. If you see a problem, figure out a solution and present both to your boss. They may not use your solution (and that's ok), but they'll be impressed that you took the time to find a solution.

[@alexanderlyon]

Yes! Very well said, Cheryl. Great comment. 🙂

[@soulfrancis]

Well said on leaders figure out solutions and presents the problem. The ability to solve problems makes you irreplaceable and valuable

[@colbyclakley9668]

So I work at a dealership, mainly window tinting, detailing, and picked up like 5 other jobs. Well I just saw this video today and learned some new things but that has been drilled into my head since I was kid. I was taught to lead by example and if there is a problem, try to fix it without causing bigger problems and a few weeks ago, I was offered the position of running my own department at a new store within the company. Blessed

[@isaacseeber780]

Your "invisible" step is something that any kind of leader should be practicing. LEADING by example is the one thing that all "lead"-ers should learn. Yes father's are the humble leaders of a household and a family. They serve their wives and children just like the government SHOULD serve the nation and people. Being a man should by this video's definition mean being a leader of dudes. Yes that is an Avengers Infinity War reference. I liked your video because I wanted to refer back to it and share it in the future with dudes I want to help to become men. Thank you. And bless you.

[@guyhouri7590]

another great tip is to always be the most positive person, someome that realy cares for everyone and pushes everyone forward with him' someone that takes on problems and gives moral boosts for his temam members

[@Mister_Soyuz_on_YT]

2:47 That saying hit different. Going to be stepping myself up and show my interest in cooking so my Manager can put me doing more hot prep duties and less in washing dishes. The goal is to learn adapt for future jobs in the Food & Beverage industry.

[@jangomanaic]

Sometimes when I'm in the trees, swinging my axe and making great individual contributions, I resist the "unproductive" notion of stepping back to actually size up the forest. It's an addiction to the task, especially when I'm an expert at that task. But what I observe good leaders doing is this: they press pause, look at the landscape, and ask "what needs to happen here for my company, our employees, or ecosystem, to thrive." That's the discipline I'm still learning. Thanks Alex - great lesson!

[@alexanderlyon]

Hi, Matt. Thank you for the personal reflection. I'm glad the video resonated with your experience. I hope you are well, friend.

[@te9781]

My concern is 3rd step "getting along with *all* team members" I've dealt with some workers that you really cant stand like racist but never show it some slackers some never stop talking some so stupid some so arrogant..wished there is a video how to deal with each kind of these personalities just to get along with ..

[@anonymoushuman8443]

There is only so much you can do but when everything else fails you have to remain professional since you're not their boss and you can't discipline them or tell them what to do.

[@muhammadedwards8425]

You could always bring it up constructively with the higher ups. Won't be easy, and maybe they won't do anything, but make it clear that it's hurting the atmosphere of the business. If you do so remember to offer to add suggestions if they want it. Don't give them advice on how to do their jobs, but offer suggestions, not help, if they want to talk about it

[@sylviakamvumuleja1334]

I will advise you to be you, and keep on doing good, I have dealt with impossible people, but by God's grace they ended up changing bcz, I kept on being me, by doing good, by me being great at my job, and especially by leading by example, I have seen a racist guy, starting talking to people in a normal way, just bcz of what he was seeing me doing.

[@Chickennuggy330]

A bit late to the table but confidence! You can have everything that you have listed here but not having the confidence can really screw yourself over. For example. I work for a company for only 6 months and other have worked for 3 years+ but because I was a leader and I was the pace setter, then hired me for supervisor then head of department. The following year.

[@greatpharoh0303]

Thank you Alex Lyon, this video is awesome! I mean really, you don't think about much but when you put it in such terms, it's not so daunting! Great!

[@alexanderlyon]

Thanks, Phil. Glad it helps.

[@michele3631]

Great advice to lead by example, and I loved seeing the blooper. Mistakes are opportunities to keep on trying 🙌

[@almirdulic8611]

Loved this video. Thank you so much. Please keep doing such a great job. Greetings from Austin, TX!

[@alexanderlyon]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful. Hello from NY state!

[@natashamelloraindengchee1829]

God bless. Thank you.

[@bear831tiger]

I so needed this, great advice for now and later

[@mattpaul8144]

Wow this is very thoughtful, and considerate. I think you're spot on here speaking from personal experience.

[@shyama5612]

Such a good summary and a reminder. I recall in an interview i was chosen exactly because I had found a glitch in a reporting process, figured out a more elegant solution and solved it and that was cited again and again and it took me only 1% of my actual work time. The key i realized was the 'what have you done not strictly part of your job?' the initiative. When they asked me that exact question in the interview, it was easy to talk with lot of confidence and with no preparation and the people asking also knew the answer. I was ranked 1st among the 20 candidates!

[@alexanderlyon]

Great job, Shyam.

[@Anonyme-hi7eh]

i think that always know what to do or doing like you know what to do is important

[@antidepressant11]

This is awesome.

[@aspaksaiyad2778]

Really Helpful.... Thanks

[@alexanderlyon]

Hi, Aspak. I appreciate the encouragement. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@user-ec6jm6qx5e]

Grear insight

[@ramanpatel9798]

Thanks

[@manojkumarpandit515]

Wow awesome bless you dear brother ❤️

[@alexanderlyon]

Thank you so much, Manoj. This is a pretty old video. Take at some new stuff on the "videos" tab. Thank you for your encouragement.

[@alexanderlyon]

Question of the day: What are your thoughts on becoming a leader?

[@TheMarketingMan4U]

I believe it's a hype if you see real meaning of leader ,it says a person who is in charge of something. I don't know why did we always try to convert noun into adjective unnecessarily. Everybody is a leader at their place and I don't believe it's an skill . It only has 2 aspects +ve n -ve.

[@landoonfleek2527]

Being confident, help others and get your job done because when you get your job done, people will trust you.

[@joekun19uploads37]

Positive approach.

[@alexanderlyon]

Thanks. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@liquoricebullets2457]

thanks for the tips, recently got promoted to leading hand after only a few months of working for this business, still being quite new i've been sort of wondering how i can be a better leader for my role

[@alexanderlyon]

Congratulations on your promotion!

[@manjitvirdee9183]

To become a leader at work , you have to manage your emotion and be expertise in your field and become a great communicator. Be a part of a team and a problem solvers.

[@bear831tiger]

Wow.. I’m a leader at work, but for the sound of it I’m more like the boss. Big difference

[@succeedtoday3200]

What about mutual leadership? Meaning, learn from each other?

[@alexanderlyon]

That's an interesting concept!

[@alabamamartialartist355]

I've seen some lazy coworkers skip the contributer part and just stand around, talk, and make buddies with bosses and now they are in lead positions.. and never made good leaders

[@decimatesable]

I see this a lot at my work place.

[@mindyobidness86]

Qualities I look for in ppl that tells me they're a leader regardless of titles are simple. Are they assertive and can handle confrontation if needed? Are they fair? Knowledgeable in the area? Takes initiative everyday, holds ppl accountable, has standards and great clear communication. Can't be a submissive leader, those 2 words don't go together. Being fair, having knowledge, taking initiative, and holding ppl accountable gets you respect no matter where you work. And leaders have a standard everyday when at work. You not going to see them leaving their area a mess and leaving stuff empty when they leave work. Leaders have to communicate about everything possible to achieve that 100% efficiency, hence meetings. They also have to be visible to the team so they know they are their for support or for accountability. Can't be that guy that shows up every once in a while while the rest of the team is on the front lines doing all the dirty work and u taking advantage cause they see that too. Give clear direction and expectation depending on your title and follow up. If your a supervisor these will take you a long way in effective leadership.

[@obesechicken13]

"Well Alex, sounds like there's a real issue here, why don't you go work on that?" Alex never again raised an issue.

[@alexanderlyon]

The video assumes you'd like to take on more leadership responsibilities (because that is largely what leadership is about). When a supervisor invites us to be involved in a project like that, that's a signal that they see that we're ready to take on that next level of responsibility. In contrast, if we just point out problems to our supervisors but aren't interested in helping to solve them, then we're signaling to others that we are not interested in growing into leadership roles.

[@darrylmiddlebrook1833]

your a nice guy do another video.

[@nicoleholley7049]

They told me a manager don't have to lead by example.

[@simonflyboy]

💜🙏

[@latrissaakabutterfly4476]

As a leader when it comes to an unease situation with an employee, you just remain blameless at all times.

[@adv67]

The music is annoying

[@alexanderlyon]

I hear you, Nathalie. I can't take the music off of existing videos but my new videos don't use nearly as much (or any) music. This video is a few years old. I hope my newer videos are better.

[@darrylmiddlebrook1833]

think

[@darrylmiddlebrook1833]

its just uncommon sense

[@frostxghostyt6313]

what a geek