Everyone can improve his or her chances for advancement by developing the skills that effective leaders display. By developing these skills now, you make it more likely others will think of you when it comes time to promote someone.

What are things that leaders do that set them apart from everyone else?

First, leaders are those willing to be in the spotlight.

That means taking on and successfully completing activities that are highly visible to others in the organization. Ideally, the more people who see these activities, the better they are. Examples of this might include directing the United Way drive in the company, planning a company event, or giving a presentation to other employees. Volunteering for these kinds of activities makes one stand out from everyone else, and they are excellent learning opportunities.

Second, leaders are those who regularly tell others what they are doing and the results they have achieved on behalf of the organization.

Many people don’t like to do this because they consider it bragging. But talking about our accomplishments is no more offensive than talking about our new car. Learn how to tell people in 60-second commercials what you are doing, the successes you are having, and how they benefit the organization. This is a difficult skill to master, but one that is essential if others are to notice your work.

A third thing leaders are very good at is enlisting the support of others to get things done.

Like Tom Sawyer, they don’t try to do everything themselves. Instead, they sell others on the benefit of helping out. This ability to attract, organize, and motivate people is a very powerful skill once developed. For example, if you volunteered to plan a company event, you could do the job all by yourself, or you could recruit others to help you. The latter approach makes the job easier, and it lets other people see you in a leadership capacity. Enlisting others also broadens your network of associates throughout the organization.

A fourth thing leaders do is make others feel good about themselves.

All of us are attracted to people who make us feel smarter, more important, more successful, and better looking. A simple way to make people feel good is to comment positively and sincerely on what is important to them whether it is their appearance, their work, their personality, their families, etc. Being able to praise others is what separates the leaders from the followers, and it doesn’t cost a thing. Keep in mind that praise is only effective when it is sincere, specific, and is about something important to the other person not what is important to you.

A fifth thing leaders do is validate others.

They do that by listening respectfully to other points of view, even when they disagree; by focusing on what they have in common with people rather than where they differ; and by using tact when they must disagree with someone. Doing so enables them to form relationships with just about anybody.

A sixth thing leaders do is they don’t bad-mouth others or the organization, even when it’s deserved.

Inveterate complainers often find their complaints come back to haunt them in unexpected and nasty ways. Complaining can also get to be a bad habit. Instead, leaders are creative problem solvers who use their imagination and negotiation skills to resolve issues. Where there are problems that have no solution, they either try to live with them or they move on.

In summary, anyone can learn to be a leader if they develop the skills that all good leaders display. By practicing these skills, you make it more likely you will be thought of when it is time to promote someone, and you will find the job transition to be much easier because you will have already developed many of the skills needed for the job.