Here's how you can gain leadership experience in your current role.

Gain leadership experience in your current role by volunteering to lead projects. Take ownership of initiatives, coordinate team efforts, and drive the project to completion. Leading projects not only demonstrates your ability to manage and inspire a team but also helps you build crucial leadership skills and gain visibility within the organization.

Gain initial leadership experience by volunteering for stretch and one-off projects which inevitably come along. Speak with you manager and let him know that you are interested in stretching yourself into a leadership capacity. If your manager agrees that it would be a good experience for you, he will have you in mind the next time a larger than usual project comes along that needs leadership and organization. When he brings you into it, he should be able to give you initial pointers and advice for leading it, to get you started. After you complete the project, he can help you assess it for what you did well and what you can learn from it. If you felt good about it, it should set you up for the next one, a little larger.

One of the easiest and quickest way of getting leadership experience is to help, train and mentor new joiners. Sharing experience and project case studies or stories will help build their confidence and foster a friendly environment as well. Involvement in problem solving discussions as well as taking leads and ownership is also helpful.

As a senior leader, I have had the pleasure to work with many informal leaders, who had aspirations to become formal leaders in their career. I think one of the stand outs, for me, was when a peer took the time, to help make another peer, be successful. I think this ability to see past yourself, and want a colleague to be successful, is what made me notice that staff member. Along with the quality of their support. I often also encouraged folks on the team, to create a culture of helping each other be successful. I think servant or authentic leadership, requires it. And in my experience, this form of leadership goes a long way in creating teams that out perform others. Be a mentor - it feels great to be one, and leaders will notice.

Build leadership experience by mentoring peers. Offer guidance, share your expertise, and support their professional growth. Mentoring not only helps your colleagues develop but also hones your leadership and communication skills, positioning you as a valuable resource and leader within your team.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝑝 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦." –𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 Below I give you the steps to improve your skills: 🟦Identify areas of improvement. 🟦Take online courses. 🟦Attend workshops. 🟦Conflict Resolution. 🟦Cultivate emotional intelligence.

Continuously improve your skills to prepare for leadership roles. Identify areas where you can enhance your knowledge and capabilities, whether through formal training, online courses, or self-study. Developing your skills makes you more competent and confident, paving the way for leadership opportunities.

Seeking feedback in a Radical Candor way -would help in getting the right inputs to fix the skillsets. Not all the feedback may be relevant but not all the negative feedbacks to be taken to heart to worry about. Working towards fixing those feedbacks is a great 'learning mindset' and not all live with such mindset since many try to be in 'fixed mindset'.

Seek feedback regularly to refine your leadership abilities. Ask colleagues and supervisors for constructive criticism on your performance and leadership style. Act on this feedback to make improvements and show that you are committed to personal and professional growth, which is a key trait of effective leaders.

One way to expand your network is to join Meetup groups that are focused on your topic, basically Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Meetup has groups for every topic under the sun, including internet development, marketing, project management, etc... As you attend these groups' events, you meet other attendees who share the same interest. Introduce yourself, express your general interest in the topic, and learn about theirs. Collect their contact info and later reach out to them to set up a call or coffee chat to further discuss your common interest. Then you can have meatier conversations and discover challenges and opportunities that you haven't thought about. Do this in the spirit of helping others, and they will help you in return.

Expand your network within the organization to gain leadership experience. Build relationships with colleagues in different departments and attend cross-functional meetings. Networking helps you understand various perspectives, collaborate more effectively, and establish yourself as a connected and influential leader.

Demonstrate your leadership potential by taking initiative in your current role. Identify areas for improvement, propose new ideas, and volunteer for additional responsibilities. Taking initiative shows your proactive attitude and readiness to lead, making you a strong candidate for leadership positions.

Identify areas where you can contribute beyond your usual responsibilities. If you notice a recurring issue with team communication, propose and implement a new strategy, such as a weekly update meeting or a shared digital workspace. Offer to lead a small team within a larger project. Show your willingness to tackle challenges by suggesting improvements during meetings. if your team struggles with meeting deadlines, you might develop a more efficient workflow and present it. I want you to know that taking the initiative shows your proactive attitude and ability to lead without formal authority. By stepping up and showing your leadership capabilities in these ways, you position yourself as a valuable asset and a potential leader.