You’re a Project Coordinator. How can you become a leader?

1 Identify your strengths and weaknesses

The first step to becoming a leader is to know yourself well. What are your core values, skills, and passions? What are your areas of improvement and challenges? How do you communicate, collaborate, and cope with stress? By being honest and self-aware, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses as a project coordinator and as a leader. You can also seek feedback from your peers, managers, and mentors to gain different perspectives and insights.

2 Learn from other leaders

Another way to grow as a leader is to learn from other leaders, both inside and outside your organization. You can observe how they handle different situations, challenges, and opportunities, and how they interact with their teams, stakeholders, and clients. You can also ask them questions, seek advice, and request feedback on your performance and progress. You can also join professional networks, associations, and communities related to project coordination and leadership, and participate in events, workshops, and online forums.

3 Take on more responsibilities and initiatives

To demonstrate your leadership potential, you need to take on more responsibilities and initiatives that go beyond your regular duties as a project coordinator. You can volunteer to lead a project, a task force, or a committee, or to mentor a new or junior colleague. You can also propose new ideas, solutions, or improvements that can benefit your team, your project, or your organization. By taking on more challenges and risks, you can show your initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

4 Develop your emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. It is a crucial skill for leaders, as it helps them to build trust, rapport, and collaboration with their team members and stakeholders. To develop your emotional intelligence, you need to practice self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. You can also use tools such as the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, the Emotional Quotient Inventory, or the Emotional and Social Competence Inventory to assess and improve your emotional intelligence.

5 Keep learning and improving

The last tip to become a leader is to keep learning and improving yourself as a project coordinator and as a leader. You can enroll in courses, programs, or certifications related to project coordination and leadership, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP), the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or the Leadership Development Program (LDP). You can also read books, articles, blogs, podcasts, or videos on project coordination and leadership topics. You can also set goals, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements.