Have you ever found yourself asking, “How do I influence those who lead me?” Leading Up is a unique skill set that enables you to positively influence your leader and add greater value to the organization. In this episode of the Leader Fluent Podcast, I'll share Ten Ways to Lead Up. Maybe you’re the newest member of the team, and you want to get off to a great start with your supervisor. Or maybe you’re in the middle of the organization—some people report to you but you still report to the Pastor, or the principal, or the CEO, and you want to gain influence with your boss. Or maybe you are the boss, and you’re wondering how to communicate to the people you lead what you look for in great team members. In this episode, I'll share the keys to leading up in a way that's healthy and adds the most value. Plus, be sure to download this month's featured resource, "The Young Leader's Guide to Building Influence."

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SHOW NOTES

Leading Up is an important skill that allows you to add the most value to your organization and be the greatest help to your leader. The question is, "How"? What does it look like to lead up in a manner that is effective and healthy? Here are ten tips to get you started.

1. SELF-LEADERSHIP: LEAD YOURSELF CONSISTENTLY WELL

Self-leadership is the discipline to influence your life in the right direction. If you can’t lead you, your boss won’t entrust you to lead others. So what does self-leadership look like? It's about showing up on time, taking responsibility for your character, having a lifelong learning attitude, owning your problems, taking initiative, and being disciplined in key areas of life. If you want to consistently lead yourself well, create a personal growth plan (You can access a FREE RESOURCES HERE to help you create a plan for personal growth).

2. RESPONSIBILITY: DO WHAT YOU WERE HIRED TO DO

The first thing your leader wants to know is whether or not you’re getting the job done that they hired you to do. To be trusted with new opportunities, you first have to show yourself trustworthy with your existing opportunities. Be responsible. Do what you were hired to do. 

3. EXCELLENCE: CONSISTENTLY OVER-DELIVER

Whereas responsibility means you can be trusted, excellence means you can be heard. If you want your leader to hear you, he or she has to see a level of excellence that gets their attention and makes a positive impression. Doing what you’re supposed to do doesn’t get noticed. It’s expected. But when you consistently over-deliver, your leader starts paying attention.

4. TEACHABILITY: BE A CURIOUS LISTENER AND LEARNER

The team members that impress me are the ones who are teachable and coachable. Author Roger Seip describes a teachability equation like this: Desire to Learn x Willingness to Change = Level of Teachability. Teachable people first have a DESIRE to learn. They have a deep passion to become better at what they do. Then, they combine that desire with a WILLINGNESS to change. Without willingness, your desires are nothing more than a daydream. Willingness is where discipline turns your desires into reality. When you make yourself teachable, you endear yourself to your leader. Be humble, listen more than you talk, welcome honest feedback, and don’t get defensive when your leader gives it to you. Be a curious listener and learner. 

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