Has my accountability increased but not my formal authority?

Do my behaviors say I am ready for more leadership now?

With all the chaos of Covid, how do I demonstrate my care and compassion while still driving for results?

These questions are some of the many we hear from leaders as they navigate the current landscape and seek to advance their careers. The good news is that leadership is not a “one-size-fits-all” model. Each of us brings our own unique experiences, personality, skills, talents and desires to the proverbial table. That’s why it is imperative that you know who you are and how you show up as a leader.

In the Tiara Leading with Impact Program, senior female leaders are given the tools and the space to clearly identify the strengths they possess as leaders and the support to expand their impact, influence and relationships to powerfully become the leaders they intend to be.

How to gain accountability and authority

One of the ways many high potential leaders get noticed is to volunteer and willingly take on new or additional assignments. While it might seem like a good plan to keep raising your hand to say “yes” to more work, you must first ask yourself if this a good strategic move? Is this project aligned with my strengths and desires or is it busy work that someone needs me to handle? Do I have the bandwidth to take it on right now? How do I say no without being ‘politically damaged goods’ in the process?

At Tiara, we believe if your goal is to grow your capacity as a leader and expand your influence, then you absolutely want to take on “challenge assignments”; assignments that may either be in your sweet spot and capabilities but may be a bit of a stretch opportunity as well.

When considering a stretch assignment, talk about the outcomes of the project with your boss and make sure you are clear on the objectives and the desired results. Confirm if there are any specific requirements that must be met and by when.

Also ask directly about what additional resources you can tap into to support the new project. Verify to whom you should provide updates and remember, just because you are taking on the overall accountability that does not mean you have to do all the tasks yourself. We would encourage you to take on the new accountability – but do so with clear intentions and a plan.

Be objective about how you show up

We demonstrate our capabilities each and every day, e.g., when we show up for meetings prepared and participate fully, when we share ideas to further the conversation and outcomes, when we ensure our colleague’s voices are included in the dialog, when we gracefully challenge the status quo or group think with another perspective, when we learn to navigate striving to achieve our own agenda as well as the team or organization’s agenda.

Is that always easy? No, of course not, but being clear about who you are and what you stand for gives you the foundation to consistently bring your best to any situation.

Emotional Intelligence and being self-aware are a leaders’ bedrock. It allows you to navigate situations that build relationships while you simultaneously build results. As you advance as a leader, it is no longer about what you can produce on your own but rather how well you navigate and inspire others to show up and produce the results they are capable of producing. Great leaders understand that building relationships and producing results are NOT mutually exclusive. They are each requirements for sustainable success.

Demonstrate care and compassion while driving for results

The old ways of leadership were one-dimensional and tended to be focused on outcomes only; “I don’t care how you get it done, just do it!” We refer to this as “Power Over”. That old model was never sustainable and is clearly out of touch with today’s workplace and societal environments.

In the Tiara Leading with Impact Program, we encourage our leaders to embrace all forms of power, leveraging a power continuum. Past views of power were all about the ‘force’ or ‘win/lose’. Today, leaders know to embrace all of themselves and show up as people – not just the boss or person in charge. The ability to show a range of emotions; care, compassion, understanding and empathy makes us fellow human beings. This vulnerability is not a weakness. It is actually a key element of building trust and creating followership.

People will follow leaders they trust and who inspire them to be all of themselves. Being comfortable in the moment with whatever is occurring is a powerful and attractive leadership characteristic. People will see you and they will also know they are seen by you. It’s amazing what happens when people feel heard, seen, valued and inspired at work.