How to Develop Future Leaders: The Key to Long-Term Success

Great leaders don’t just emerge by accident—they actively seek out opportunities, build relationships, and expand their skill sets. Leadership development isn’t just about promotions; it’s about gaining influence, making an impact, and preparing for the next step before it arrives.

I’ve spent years helping interns and early-career professionals navigate their way into full-time roles, and I frequently coach employees on how to position themselves for career advancement. The best advice I can give? Don’t wait for leadership to hand you opportunities—create them.

What Makes a Great Leader?

A great leader isn’t defined by a title—they inspire, guide, and empower others while driving results and fostering a positive culture. Leadership is about influence, adaptability, and a commitment to both personal and professional growth.

Here are the key characteristics of an effective leader:

🗣️ Effective Communication

• Clearly articulates ideas, expectations, and goals.

• Actively listens and values diverse perspectives.

• Provides constructive feedback that helps others grow.

• Adjusts their communication style for different audiences.

🛠️ Integrity & Accountability

• Leads with honesty, ethics, and consistency.

• Takes responsibility for both successes and failures.

• Builds trust by following through on commitments.

• Holds themselves and others to high standards.

📈 Visionary Thinking & Strategic Decision-Making

• Sees the bigger picture and aligns teams toward a common goal.

• Anticipates challenges and develops proactive solutions.

• Makes informed, strategic decisions even under pressure.

• Encourages innovation and forward-thinking problem-solving.

❤️ Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

• Understands and respects different perspectives.

• Builds strong relationships by showing genuine care.

• Reads social cues and adapts their approach accordingly.

• Supports employees’ personal and professional well-being.

🤝 Team Building & Collaboration

• Creates a culture of inclusion, trust, and psychological safety.

• Brings people together to work toward shared goals.

• Encourages cross-functional collaboration.

• Helps individuals see the value of their contributions.

🛠️ Delegation & Empowerment

• Recognizes that strong leadership means trusting others.

• Assigns tasks based on strengths and development opportunities.

• Gives employees ownership and autonomy over their work.

• Provides coaching and support without micromanaging.

🔄 Adaptability & Resilience

• Responds to change and uncertainty with confidence.

• Learns from failure and encourages a growth mindset.

• Navigates unexpected challenges without losing focus.

• Stays open to new ideas and evolving strategies.

🚀 Motivation & Influence

• Inspires enthusiasm and a sense of purpose in teams.

• Leads by example—models the behaviors they expect.

• Encourages others to step up and take initiative.

• Celebrates success and recognizes contributions.

📚 Self-Awareness & Continuous Growth

• Regularly reflects on strengths and areas for improvement.

• Seeks feedback and actively works on personal development.

• Invests in ongoing learning—books, courses, networking, etc.

• Encourages professional development within their teams.

⚡ Courage & Confidence in Decision-Making

• Willing to make tough decisions, even when unpopular.

• Takes calculated risks while remaining accountable.

• Encourages open dialogue and diverse opinions before acting.

• Stands firm in values but remains open to constructive challenge.

Developing Your Own Leadership Skills

If you want to move into leadership, don’t wait for someone to hand you the title—start acting like a leader now. Here are steps you can take to build leadership skills, grow your influence, and stand out for leadership roles:

1️⃣ Expand Your Network: Who You Know Shapes What You Know

Your network is one of your biggest career assets. The more people you know, the more opportunities you’ll have to learn, collaborate, and be considered for new roles.

• Meet people in different departments to learn about their work styles and challenges.

• Ask leaders and peers about their career paths to understand different ways to grow.

• Attend company events, professional conferences, and networking meetups.

• Build a strong LinkedIn presence—connect with colleagues and industry professionals.

Leaders advocate for people they know. The more relationships you build, the more likely someone will mention your name in the right room.

2️⃣ Find a Mentor (or More Than One!)

A great mentor provides insight, advice, and perspective that can accelerate your growth. They don’t just tell you what to do; they help you weigh pros and cons, navigate challenges, and expand your vision for what’s possible.

• Seek out mentors in roles you aspire to—ask about their career journey.

• Find informal mentors in different departments to broaden your knowledge.

• Meet with your mentor regularly—come prepared with questions and challenges.

• If you’re experienced, mentor someone else—teaching strengthens your own leadership skills.

3️⃣ Seek Out (Don’t Just Accept) Stretch Projects

Stretch projects challenge you beyond your current role and put you in front of the right people. But don’t wait for your leader to assign one—volunteer for them.

• Offer your skills to cross-functional teams or company-wide initiatives.

• Say "YES" to projects outside your comfort zone—even if you’re unsure (or scared!) at first.

• Lead a working group, special project, or initiative aligned with your interests.

• Act as a backup for a more experienced teammate to learn new skills.

When leaders look for people to promote, they consider who has already demonstrated leadership behaviors. Seeking out high-visibility projects shows initiative and builds your reputation as someone who gets things done.

4️⃣ Make Yourself Visible: Become Someone Others Talk About

Sponsorship is different from mentorship—sponsors are people who advocate for you behind closed doors. To get sponsored, you need to stand out in the right ways:

• Get out of your comfort zone—challenge yourself to grow.

• Speak up in meetings—share insights, not just updates.

• Don’t just provide data—analyze it and offer solutions.

• Identify a need or gap and present a solution.

• Develop expertise in a skill that’s valuable to your team.

• Present at meetings—staff meetings, town halls, or communities of practice.

• Become a change ambassador—support and drive new initiatives.

• Volunteer for Employee Resource Group (ERG) leadership roles—they provide visibility and impact.

When leaders trust your judgment and see your ability to solve problems, they’ll naturally advocate for you in conversations about career growth.

5️⃣ Invest in Your Own Development

If you want to move into leadership, act like a leader before you have the title. That means continuously learning, expanding your skills, and looking for growth opportunities.

• Job shadow someone in a role you’re interested in.

• Take leadership training through LinkedIn Learning, workshops, or conferences.

• Attend webinars and industry events to stay ahead of trends.

• Find opportunities to speak publicly—practice your communication skills.

• Lead a training session or create a playbook to share knowledge with others.

Leadership isn’t about waiting for the perfect opportunity—it’s about creating opportunities, showing up consistently, and demonstrating your value.

For Current Leaders: How to Develop Leadership Skills in Your Team

If you’re already in a leadership role, your job isn’t just to deliver results—it’s to build up the next generation of leaders. Here’s how you can help your team develop their leadership potential:

🛠 Identify & Support High-Potential Employees

• Pay attention to who takes initiative, asks thoughtful questions, and seeks growth.

• Have career development conversations—ask what they’re interested in and where they see themselves.

• Connect them with mentors or sponsors to help them navigate their career path.

🎯 Give Them Opportunities to Lead

• Assign them stretch projects that challenge them and expand their skills.

• Encourage them to present at meetings, lead initiatives, or run working groups.

• Let them make decisions and own responsibilities—then coach them through challenges.

📢 Advocate for Their Growth

• Talk about high-potential employees in leadership meetings and put their names forward for new opportunities.

• Give them exposure to senior leadership by inviting them to important meetings.

• Recommend them for training programs, mentorship, and leadership development initiatives.

🧠 Provide Constructive Feedback & Coaching

• Help them understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

• Give honest but supportive feedback on how they can grow.

• Encourage self-reflection and continuous learning.

🌟 Model the Leadership Behaviors You Want to See

• Be the kind of leader you would want to follow.

• Show integrity, adaptability, and empathy in how you lead.

• Encourage an environment where people feel safe to ask questions, take risks, and learn.

Final Thought: Leadership Is a Journey, Not a Title

Leadership isn’t about waiting for the perfect opportunity—it’s about creating opportunities, showing up consistently, and demonstrating value. Expand your skills, take initiative, and put yourself in positions where decision-makers see your potential.

And if you’re already in leadership, your biggest impact won’t just be your own success—it will be the leaders you help develop along the way.

So step up, stand out, and start leading now. 🚀