Photo by RODNAE Productions @ pexels.com

Being in the "minority" for my entire career, I've learned the importance of strengthening my leadership presence. During my stint as the youngest member of a majority White male leadership team, I went from intentionally shrinking in an attempt to "fit in" to intentionally working on standing out. It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth it.

Here are four ways I worked to intentionally increase my leadership presence at work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Speaking up during big meetings when I had something valuable to contribute.
The emphasis here is on when I had something valuable to contribute. Some people like to speak in meetings to appear important - as someone who isn’t a fan of those people, I do not subscribe to that behavior. Although it takes courage to put yourself out there in front of a big group of people, when your contribution is valuable, it's so worth it!
Asking questions when things weren’t clear.
While it's often easier to just go along with the ideas presented by others and just do your own thing on the side, asking questions (in a friendly, curious way) goes a long way in building trust, which is critical for all leaders.
Being willing to defend my opinion.
The truth is, there were often people who had differing opinions. Rather than simply going along with their opinion because it was the easier thing to do, I picked my battles and stood my ground. Even when things didn't go exactly as planned, I was still respected as a valuable contributor.
Being trustworthy and dependable.
Even when it meant having to work a little longer or take on more than my "fair share" of work. I've always been a woman of my word, so when I agree to do something, even if it turns out to be a little more than I initially planned, I always try to deliver on time and with excellence.

All-in-all, leadership requires servanthood. Helping to make others better is the best way to serve them well. Rather than being intimidated by this grand idea of leadership, allow courage, curiosity, and commitment to drive your servant leadership.