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So you’re not the CEO—you can still be a great leader whether you are entry level, middle management or the janitor, just by applying some simple principles. John C. Maxwell wrote a book called “The 360 Degree Leader” and it’s a great manual on influencing people from anywhere in the organization. Leadership can be categorized into three areas: Leading Up, Leading Across and Leading Down.

Leading Up is how well you are able to influence and assist your leaders. Do you make your leader stand out in a good way or do you just complain about how rotten of a boss you have? Even if you think that Miss South Carolina, circa 2007, would win in a competition of wits, against your boss you need to make it your job to be as supportive as possible and in turn allow your greatness to shine. Most leaders (like you) want to lead and not be led which is why leading-up is the hardest of the three influencing areas. You may not be able to influence those above you within your organization, but you can support your organization’s leadership and do the best you possibly can by practicing a few principles during the short period of time it takes to rise up the ranks.

Lead yourself well—If you can’t lead yourself well how can you lead anyone else? You must first establish credibility with yourself. Become the type of person that doesn’t need constant direction and supervision. You do not want to be considered someone that drains time and energy but rather a person that takes initiative and improves the status quo.

Lighten Your Leader’s Load—Remember the time when you were completely overwhelmed with work and your friend or co-worker said those six magical words, “Can I help you with that?” Suddenly life felt manageable again—your load was lightened. I know you are already inundated with projects and tasks but imagine what your boss must be going through? Even if your boss is lazy and has already delegated most of his or her responsibilities to you, remain positive and know that decision makers are noticing and when you get that great promotion you will already be familiar with what your new responsibilities will entail . . . or you may skip a rung on the corporate ladder and know what your direct reports should be focusing on. By lightening your leader’s load it shows that you are a team player, you are grateful for your job and are part of something bigger than yourself and are extremely valuable.

Leading Across—is being able to lead, influence and gain the respect of your peers. Are you able to influence your fellow peers that are in similar leadership positions as you? Great leaders can lead other leaders and they accomplish this by helping their peers succeed. Ultimately, we all want to look good and be respected and the law of reciprocity says that what you give you will get back. Take the time to help your fellow leaders do well and they will do the same for you. You will create a best case “win-win” scenario for your co-worker, organization and yourself. The more wins you create the more influential and powerful you will become.

Put completing fellow leaders ahead of competing with them—When you see everyone as competition, not only do you live a life full of stress and anxiety but you become less productive. Granted a little friendly competition is good for you, but don’t waste your energy and resources on sabotaging or refusing to help your fellow leaders. The success of the organization is more important than any individual wins—that is what a true leader thinks and believes. Remember the ultimate goal is to be a great leader and to attempt to complete the skill set of fellow leaders—not win. It’s true when they say “it’s better to lose the battle but win the war”.

Be a Friend—Building strong relationships allows for influence to be possible. Abraham Lincoln said: “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.” Be a friend both inside and outside of work and listen more than you talk. Be honest and sincere with your praise and don’t let anyone walk around with food stuck in their teeth.

Let the Best Idea Win—and don’t let pride get in the way. Just because you spent all night working on your idea of how to solve your organization’s problems doesn’t mean it is the best solution. Keep an open mind and know when to back down and congratulate the person with the best idea. Ask how you can help and be part of the winning team. You may make a new friend and will definitely prove that you want what is best for the company. Additionally, the next time you have the best idea your peers will more than likely praise you rather than continue to compete.

Leading Down—How do you lead those that report to you or those that are not as high as you are in the company? You need to put in just as much time and effort with your subordinates as you do with your leaders. Show the same amount of respect to those that report to you or are lower in the company’s hierarchy as you do with your boss and your boss’ boss. Focus on what knowledge you have and can pass along in an effort to add value to other’s lives and professions. Just because you had to figure everything out on your own doesn’t mean it is the right way to do things. Treat others like you would have wanted to be treated and you will foster loyal relationships. The people that report to you have the same opportunities as you do to move up in the company and it is best to begin nurturing those relationships now.

Walk Slowly Through the Halls—Don’t always be in a hurry, take the time to ask the administrative assistant how their day is going. If you know that someone just returned from vacation, ask if they enjoyed their trip and would recommend the resort they stayed at. Remember people’s names—like Dale Carnegie says, “A person’s name is the sweetest sound they can hear.” The goal is to create a nice balance between personal and professional conversation. When you focus only on business you lose important relationships and business suffers but when you tend to the people, they will focus on the business.

See Everyone as a Ten—The person that inspires you the most is not someone that sees you as ignorant and incapable but someone that believes in you and can see your full potential. When you treat people as if they are a Ten they will express more concern and effort and won’t want to disappoint you. After all, who gets better attention from you; the person that treats you as someone who is replaceable, or the person that remembers your name and praises your work? Believe in others and they will believe in you.

There are many other leadership styles and techniques that you can incorporate into your leadership toolkit, but if you take a small step and focus on these 7 principles you will be off to a great start and much closer to that big promotion:
Leading Yourself Well
Lightening Your Leader’s Load
Put Completing Fellow Leaders Ahead of Competing with Them
Be a friend
Let the Best Idea Win
Walk Slowly Through the Halls and
See Everyone as a Ten

See you in the corner office!

About Sarah: Sarah Skinner serves as an Executive Coach for Win-Win Coaching as well as the Vice-Chair of the Kalamazoo, MI SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business) Chapter. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior and Professional Coaching through the University of Texas at Dallas while helping business leaders and entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams. Sarah graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, with a degree in Business Administration, and immediately pursued a career in retail and marketing. After working in sales at Giorgio Armani, in the Buying Department at Carson Pirie Scott and as an Account Executive for a men’s clothing label, Sarah decided to utilize her experiences and open her own women’s clothing store that proved to consistently be voted Milwaukee’s Best. Sarah is now coaching professionals to achieve their full potential and she enjoys sharing her knowledge of entrepreneurship, marketing, and retail with those seeking advice through SCORE, the Small Business Technology and Development Center, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Win-Win Coaching.

Contact: sarahlskinner@yahoo.com