Want to Lead? Don't Fit In

"Fitting in" is a big deal, and in many organizations it's seen as the way to career longevity.

That's a problem.

People are influenced by those they see as being "ahead of them." If you simply match the rest of the workforce and blend in, your influence is diminished. Eventually, you become invisible.

If you want to lead, be willing to raise your personal standards to exceed the common expectations of your organization or work group. "Raising" equates with "elevating." Once you raise the bar for yourself, you begin to view things from a heightened position that expands your perspective. When that happens, you're able to see and describe a greater vision for those around you.

What can you start doing now to raise your standards and lead even more effectively??

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For more insight into nearly every aspect of leadership, check out the just-released April Leadership Carnival hosted by Sharlyn Lauby, chief mixologist and HR Bartender.

Comments

[LoyalNation]

The need to fit in as a manager is a little bit like the need to fit in as a teenager. You try so hard to be friends with your employees that you forget to be in charge.

Employee recognition and rewards programs allow you to manage and lead, while recognizing staff achievements from a managerial level.

[Steve Roesler]

The teenager analogy is a good one and helpful to readers.

A reminder to all former teenagers: someone eventually took charge.

[Logan]

That is so true. If you want to get anywhere you need to be one that will stand out and that people can see that you are a person worth following.

[Brian O'Connell]

Very well said. A leader is someone who can take a blame for the whole team when something goes wrong, yet stand up and take the next step as if nothing happened. There are some great blog posts on here, I think a lot of people will benefit from them!