Leadership, like ice cream, comes in many flavors. 

There are situations most of us will encounter where leadership skills are handy - if not a must.

Volunteer. Have you ever raised your hand and received an assignment before you realized what you just volunteered for?  Or, perhaps nobody else volunteers to lead, so you raise your hand?  Maybe you jumped at the chance to lead.  No matter how or why you volunteered, it's good for your career.  The only way to improve is through practice - and that includes leading.  Volunteering to lead provides the leadership practice while providing a service to your organization, company or group.  To improve your leadership skills, volunteer to lead - and volunteer often.

Forced into it. How many movies have reluctant heroes?  You know - the ones who don't think of themselves as leaders but are forced by circumstances to lead?  It happens in real life, too.  For instance, you might be in a burning building and, without thinking, take on the responsibility to lead people to safety.  Thankfully, that kind of situation presents itself infrequently.  More likely, management will delegate leadership to you, forcing you to chair a committee or project.  When this happens - and rest assured, it will happen at some point in your career - you will be prepared...if you've honed your skills by volunteering to lead.

Seeing opportunity.  At some point, most of us notice others who need a little coaching.  These are tremendous opportunities for them and for you.  Case in point: back in the day, one of my supervisors conducted a meeting between our company and another (we were experiencing an "integration").  During that meeting, she revealed a new policy for those in my department.  I called a meeting with her and my department to address this.  "I have an opportunity for you to learn," I began.  "Don't you think I've learned enough?" she asked.  "No," I said, "we all have plenty to learn.  For instance, it could be construed as unprofessional of you to unveil the new policy in a large meeting like that before addressing it with us as a unit."  She apologized for the error and, because I used a softened set of phrases, she did not become defensive. If you look for opportunities to lead, you will find them.

IN THE CARAVAN: Successful situational leadership comes from practicing leadership skills. Gain this practice by volunteering to lead.  Then you will be prepared if you are forced into leading or notice an opportunity to lead.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Situational Leadership II: Using the Opportunities.


Want more advice on Adding Value? Check out these posts and The Lion's Pride section of WildJobSafari.com!

Check out last Wednesday's post on the taking no bull...nicely.

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