Leadership isn't management... It will make you a good manager but if you are an engineer today, then being a leader is totally possible. Its about being proactive, helpful, thoughtful and "solutions oriented" (if you spot a problem, bring a solution or better yet two to the table with it). Be the person your peers reach out to when they are stuck.
100% agreed that leadership and management are two very different things--it's an important distinction (and one that typical conversation tends to gloss over). I hope my original comment didn't imply they were the same.
Also agreed that leaders who are NOT managers are extremely important.
Along those same lines, authority and influence are also not the same things. Managers frequently have authority, while leaders often do their jobs through influence.
Learning how to successfully apply influence with a lack of authority can be incredibly powerful.
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Leadership isn't management... It will make you a good manager but if you are an engineer today, then being a leader is totally possible. Its about being proactive, helpful, thoughtful and "solutions oriented" (if you spot a problem, bring a solution or better yet two to the table with it). Be the person your peers reach out to when they are stuck.
100% agreed that leadership and management are two very different things--it's an important distinction (and one that typical conversation tends to gloss over). I hope my original comment didn't imply they were the same.
Also agreed that leaders who are NOT managers are extremely important.
Along those same lines, authority and influence are also not the same things. Managers frequently have authority, while leaders often do their jobs through influence.
Learning how to successfully apply influence with a lack of authority can be incredibly powerful.