Published on March 3, 2022

Leadership is a journey and not a destination. A leader is always evolving and is open to new ideas and new ways of doing things by being open to different perspectives. A successful leader challenges stereotypes and grows from the opportunities.

The 7 Steps to Become a Successful Young Leader

The importance of leadership cannot be stressed enough. Leadership starts young. A good leader is focused, curious and always eager to learn. There are many steps to climb in the journey of becoming a good leader, but the 7 important steps to becoming a successful Young Leader are –

1. Pursue your Passion

Work should not seem like work. It is only when you believe in something 100% will you be able to convince others about your dream and lead them successfully. Set sails for the thing you love the most and turn your passion into your work. By starting young, you have the advantage of charting your own course.

2. Observe

Listening and observing others is a great way to learn about people and work. Different people have different ways of getting things done. A successful leader observes, understands and decides upon the best course of action having evaluated all possibilities and by taking everybody into confidence.

3. Lead by Example

A Leader leads by example. Right from being punctual, to respecting others, to taking responsibility for actions, a successful leader should set an example to everyone and lead from the forefront. Be the kind of leader you would follow yourself. When you lead by example, you inspire your team to emulate your good traits. Your habits organically trickle down to your team and it improves the work culture and raises the overall efficiency of the organization.

4. Stay Organized

Clear, concise and precise – a successful leader stays organized in thoughts and actions. From the workspace to the decisions made, everything must reflect clarity. When clarity is lacking, everything quickly descends into chaos. Finding the right space for files and utilities on the desk, organizing resource inventories, assigning the right instructions to the right people, everything requires clear organization and execution.

5. Accept Mistakes and Learn from them

Mistakes are bound to occur owing to age and inexperience, but accepting the mistake and learning from it is the trait of a successful leader. A good leader never makes the same mistake twice. 

6. Identify Strengths & Work on the Weaknesses

Successful leaders are well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of not only themselves but also of their team. They are great at delegating and identifying the best person for the job.

7. Evolve

Mistakes are bound to occur owing to age and inexperience, but accepting the mistake and learning from it is the trait of a successful leader. A good leader never makes the same mistake twice. 

Hone your leadership skills

A leadership development program can go a long way in nurturing and developing leadership skills. A leadership development program offers a great opportunity to indulge with qualified professionals who can help you define a purpose and educate you to reach your full potential. A good education consultant or counselor can tap into your potential and push you in the right direction to be a successful leader.

Unleash The Leader In You with Harvard YLC

Harvard Youth Lead the Change is a leadership development program created by professors of the Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard School of education, and held by Harvard students. Held for students in grades 8 – 12, the program aims at empowering students and unlocking their leadership capabilities as they develop tangible solutions to global problems. Over the 7 day course, the students work in a group to understand a global issue and develop a social change project to address it. Through this program, students learn about core leadership skills such as collaboration, public speaking, time management, and self-knowledge. 

The Harvard trainers also hold one-on-one sessions with students who continue to serve as mentors after the program. On finishing the program, there is an opportunity to complete mentorship for an entire year, to implement their project. Presented by The Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC), this Harvard student organization aims to provide and promote leadership development opportunities across the world.