Advancing in your career depends on more than technical skills and a willingness to work hard— it also requires you to have the ability to take on a leadership role. Some people are natural-born speakers, but anyone can develop the skills needed with some practice. Here are some strategies to help you develop your leadership skills.

Practice discipline.

Developing discipline is crucial to be an effective leader, and it inspires others to be disciplined as well. People will judge your capacity to lead by the amount of discipline you display in your work environment. Demonstrate discipline by meeting deadlines, planning your schedule, and being on time. Try to start simple, like waking up early or getting daily exercise, and work your way up.

Work on communication skills.

Communication is one of the most powerful tools. You can solve problems and overcome most obstacles if you are a good communicator. It’s important to get your point across quickly and give feedback effectively. Instead of relying on your strong suit, work on whatever area of your communication skills is lacking. It will make you a better team player and leader.

Develop situational awareness.

A mark of a good leader is someone who can see the bigger picture and anticipate problems before they even occur. The ability to foresee and provide suggestions for avoiding problems is valuable in a leader. Not only that, but this skill can help you easily recognize things that others may overlook, which may help you gain recognition.

Be a good listener.

Becoming a leader doesn’t mean that you’re always in the spotlight— it also means that you’re someone who is open to discussion and listens to new ideas. Good listeners know that communication is not only about words, but non-verbal clues too. Work on picking up on those clues, such as eye contact or body language.

Learn to follow.

A true leader has no problem yielding control to another person if applicable. You shouldn’t feel threatened if someone disagrees with you or puts forth ideas of their own. Instead, keep an open mind and give credit where credit is due. It won’t always be easy, but if you learn to value and respect others’ opinions and thoughts, they’ll be more likely to step on the plate for you.

Mrs. Nicole Soliven advised students to “practice these skills daily and take initiative” whenever they can. “Leadership is a valuable skill in the workforce,” she said. “For any project to be successful, a leader has to take charge and encourage other team players.”

Good leadership is essential in advancing further in your career, but leadership means a lot more than being in charge. With the help of these skills, there is no doubt that you’ll develop into a confident and outspoken leader!