What is a leader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Michael Ault Ph.D.
introduction image

A leader guides their team toward a common goal or vision. Leaders possess strong communication and decision-making abilities. A leader empowers their team to achieve success and leads by example. Leaders must possess patience and strong interpersonal skills, delegating tasks and providing insightful and compassionate feedback. A leader encourages collaboration, innovation, and growth in a positive work environment; they must be highly adaptable and able to manage challenges calmly and effectively.

What general advice would you give to a Leader?

M

Michael Ault Ph.D.Michael Ault Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Director of Master of Professional Communication, Associate Professor of Communication, Weber State University

Asking what a communication specialist does is kind of like asking what a Mom does. We can do a little bit of everything. Communication specialists are often hired as managers and supervisors, social media managers, public relations staff and leaders, family councilors, educators, journalists, and just about any other industry you can think of.
ScoreLeaderUS Average
Salary
6.8

Avg. Salary $86,964

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.1

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.71%

Asian 5.05%

Black or African American 11.93%

Hispanic or Latino 16.98%

Unknown 4.15%

White 61.18%

Gender

female 50.18%

male 49.82%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress Level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.1

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Leader?

Pros

  • The opportunity to inspire and motivate others

  • Possibility for career advancement

  • Greater earning potential

  • Being recognized for accomplishments and contributions

  • Opportunity for personal growth and development

Cons

  • Responsibility for the success or failure of a team

  • Long hours and need for constant availability

  • Managing difficult personalities and conflicts within the team

  • Balancing competing priorities and demands on time and resources

  • Potential for burnout or exhaustion

Leader career paths

Key steps to become a leader

  1. Explore leader education requirements

    Most common leader degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.4 %

    Associate

    11.2 %

    Master's

    10.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific leader skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service14.21%
    Strong Time Management8.58%
    Excellent Interpersonal6.61%
    PET6.00%
    Digital Transformation5.90%
  3. Complete relevant leader training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real leader resumes.
  4. Gain additional leader certifications

    Leader certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific leader certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for leaders include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Six Sigma Green Belt.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research leader duties and responsibilities

    • Manage UNIX and mainframe systems software staff.
    • Achieve business metrics and implement WCM tools and processes.
    • Lead instrument calibration, OOS investigation, change control, deviation documentation to comply with GMP.
    • Lead a group to help a dog food producer to gain traction in the grocery store channel
  6. Get leader experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a leader. The most common roles before becoming a leader include internship, volunteer team lead and cashier.
  7. Prepare your leader resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your leader resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Leader Resume templates

    Build a professional Leader resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Leader resume.
    Leader Resume
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  8. Apply for leader jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Leader Job

Zippi

Are you a Leader?

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Average leader salary

The average Leader salary in the United States is $86,964 per year or $42 per hour. Leader salaries range between $49,000 and $153,000 per year.

Average Leader Salary
$86,964 Yearly
$41.81 hourly

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Leader reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Cons

The role is often misunderstood and overlooked in applications for higher-level positions.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021
Pros

Flexibility of who I can interact


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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