Without a doubt, making the step from being a manager to being a leader is one of the biggest challenges that you will face. While there is no sure-fire way of getting it right, there are some things that you can do to get yourself prepared.
Know your start point
Before you can do anything to move forward, you need to be clear on what your start point is. Taking some form of assessment or 360º feedback can be a really effective way of getting a stake in the ground in where you are right now, really quickly.
Shadow people who are already there
I am astounded just how few people reach out and ask a senior person if they can shadow them for the day. Not only do you get some great insights into their role but you also see, in a real life environment, how they respond and deal with the never ending challenges.
Take on the role in an acting up capacity
When I was a Head of Management of Accounts, I was asked to act up to the role of Deputy Finance Director. It provided the opportunity to cut my teeth in the role and get some great experience.
Go on a secondment
Maybe you are looking for experience in a particular area. Taking a secondment for a 6 month period could just be the fastest way of filling that experience gap while giving a future employer concrete evidence of achievement.
The Bottom Line: The only constraint to preparing yourself for leadership is your imagination. So what could you do right now to prepare yourself for success as a leader?