👩💼How to Lead Peers Without Seeming Like a Jerk: An Unofficial Guide👨💼
☑ Build trust: This is the most important building block for a great peer relationship! Connect with peers about work and life. Listen, empathize, and support. Be the person they want to share with because they know you’re going to be thrilled about their success, an empathetic ear when they need one, and you might have some really good ideas for next steps if they’re stuck.
☑ Set the standard: Be the Beyoncé of behaviour. Show them what it means to be a great co-worker and work like a boss. Work hard, don’t talk poorly about others, and always seek to understand the whole story before commenting on or agreeing with office gossip.
☑ Speak their language: Don't talk like a dictionary. Communicate clearly and calmly without sounding like the bossypants in charge.
☑ Know (and celebrate) their strengths: Identify their talents, celebrate the unique ‘je ne sais quoi’ they bring to the team, and involve them in whatever important stuff you can so they feel like champions.
☑ Minimize the drama: Address issues carefully, like disarming a nuclear bomb. Offer feedback privately and focus on the situation, not the person. When they come to you with a problem, drop some wisdom bombs and help them grow, but let them do the heavy lifting (aka: don’t inject yourself into the situation unnecessarily!)
☑ Support their growth: Encourage professional development and furthering their education - formal and informal. Extra course? New project opportunity that stretches them a bit? Opportunity to cover a leave and learn new things? Yes!! Make them feel like they're climbing Mt. Success, one workshop at a time.
In the end, being a leader is about inspiring and motivating others to be their best. No fancy title required.
