How to Unleash Your Inner Leader At Any Stage of Your Career

Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a set of values and traits you put into action – characteristics that become part of who you are and how you make difficult decisions on a daily basis. Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to work with and learn from incredible leaders at some of the largest and most successful tech companies in the world. Along the way, I discovered how to tap my own leadership potential and grow into the person I am today.

Here are 3 strategies that can help you unleash your inner leader at any stage of your career:

Give Back, Gain More – Early on, I recognized that a great way to give yourself a boost is to lift up someone else. All too often, we’re conditioned to believe that we need to reach some conventionally accepted level of success, age or income before we have something to offer. But that’s a widespread misconception and one that can hold you back. A key part of being a leader is understanding that everyone has something worth sharing and appreciating that every journey has a starting point. Sure, the first step is always the hardest, but remember, no one is expecting you to jump on stage for a TED talk tomorrow. There are many ways to share your skills, talents, and insights and forge connections in the process. Consider sitting in on product demos, attending meetups, getting involved in a nonprofit, or simply inviting a colleague for a cup of coffee.

Giving back not only feels good, but it also does wonders for expanding your network and sphere of influence. For instance, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor young entrepreneurs like Stacy Ferreira, who at 26, has co-founded a highly successful company, written a bestseller, and was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016. I met Stacy through my work on the board of Watermark, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women leaders. Today, I advise Stacy’s second venture. But here’s the secret – I probably get more out of it then she does. Young leaders like Stacy are not only an inspiration; they also help me stay on top of the latest industry trends. Meanwhile, she is already paying it forward by coaching others. And to think our connection wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t decide to step up and volunteer my time.

Own Your Power – Just like they don’t wait for permission to contribute, true leaders know they don’t need approval to be themselves. Once you develop and commit to your values, it’s crucial that you stay true to your authentic self. Yes, successful leaders share certain qualities – courage, determination, and grit, among others – but they all got there different ways. There’s no cookie-cutter approach. In many ways, leadership is a process of self-discovery, a distinct, formative and highly personal path of trials, obstacles, and challenges you need to forge from within.

That’s why telling your own story is so important. Not that it’s easy. It took me some time to fully realize both how special my journey was and why I need to celebrate it. See, my upbringing didn’t exactly scream “executive.” Coming to the United States from Haiti at five years old set the tone for who I am, what I care about and where I stand today. Being ridiculed because I couldn’t speak English was a hardship, but it gave me focus and perspective. Overcoming that adversity strengthened my core, built character, and prepared me to take on tougher challenges in the future. Listen, in one way or another, all of us share the experience of digging deep to channel unknown potential and overcome the odds. Leaders don’t rest on their laurels – they harness them to ground themselves, motivate others, and energize their teams and communities.

Be Fearlessly Enterprising and Investable – Successful leaders are comfortable navigating the unknown. They take calculated risks, lean into hard problems, and learn from failures or shortcomings. And when things don’t go as planned, they’re resourceful in finding an opportunity for growth and resilient in bouncing back.

Perhaps most importantly, leaders also embrace being enterprising and investable. Yes, we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. And yes, taking someone under your wing can be a rewarding experience both personally and professionally. But that’s only if you make it worth your while. The bottom line is investing your time, energy, and resources in others isn’t strictly a charitable endeavor. To flourish, it must be a mutually beneficial relationship. For instance, I’m careful to consider and select mentees who are already on the fast track – worthy professionals who I can help accelerate even further. Another one of them is Morgan DeBaun, who I met while working at Intuit. Early on, I could tell she was going places, so I advised her and provided some very early venture financing. Today, she’s the co-founder and CEO of Blavity, an online community for black creativity and news. Recently, she raised a $6 million Series A led by Google Ventures. Morgan was readily investable and I was enterprising in spotting her potential. But she wasn’t waiting on me and I wasn’t giving her a handout. And while having a sponsor is great, you can’t bank on it. Morgan was her own advocate and continues to be ambitious in attracting colleagues, investors, and supporters.

Whatever you do, don’t wait. Over time, I’ve discovered that so many talented executives, innovators, and entrepreneurs have incredible leadership potential hiding just beneath the surface. But all too often they hesitate to dig deep, unearth their gifts, and share them with the world. Remember, everyone has to start somewhere and real leadership takes effort and action. Don’t wait for permission because you’re waiting for yourself. Almost always, the best way to get ahead is to push others. The best way to find your voice is to tell your story. And the best way to become a leader is to start leading.

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