In the film The Fabelmans , director Steven Spielberg committed some of his early childhood directing experiences to the silver screen. The man who would later become a three-time Oscar winner documents his boyhood efforts to create films using an 8mm camera. He wasn’t a professional director yet, but he sure acted like one.

In the business world, we tend to wait for a promotion to a managerial or leadership role to take the reins of our work. But that doesn’t have to be the case. No matter what position you’re in, whether you’re the newly minted intern or years into your career, it’s never too early to start acting like a leader. As Spielberg’s story shows, it can jumpstart your preparation for the path that lies ahead.

As CEO of my company, I can guarantee you that leaders notice that kind of ambition. Here’s how anyone can start acting like a leader today, no matter what position they’re in.

Look Where No One Else Is Looking

One of the qualities that defines highly effective leaders is they’re always looking for ways to improve the status quo. If things are running smoothly, it’s tempting to rest on your laurels and continue on the charted course. But the continuous growth that’s essential for surviving in today’s constantly changing business environment, where new AI tools and capabilities proliferate, requires proactively thinking about how to make things run even better.

The requisite trait for this mindset is curiosity.

Great leaders are curious about how to make systems and operations more efficient. They look for redundant steps to eliminate and new ways to automate. As Harvard Business Review notes, leadership behavior means looking for the white space, or the ”problems that others aren’t willing to tackle or don’t even know exist.” Addressing the unspoken issues, rather than turning a blind eye, is a surefire way to gain recognition in your organization.

As a leader, I can attest that we love when these kinds of ideas come from employees. Cultivating curiosity and examining whether there’s a better way to get things done is something that any employee can start doing today.

Be The Person Everyone Wants On Their Team

They say that a rising tide lifts all boats. There are various reasons that rings true for professionals looking to become leaders.

For starters, mentoring and teaching others, whether they’re peers, junior employees, or colleagues from other departments, delivers invaluable benefits. It develops your mastery of a subject by virtue of thinking through concepts and figuring out how to articulate ideas or how to efficiently complete a task. I knew how to do my job, but when I took parental leave and had to delegate many of my responsibilities, I became an expert in everything I do. Teaching hones your communication skills. It shifts your mindset from mere executor to problem solver. It also lifts the organization by improving everyones’ capabilities.

What’s more, as Harvard Business Review highlights, leaders rarely make promotion calls in a vacuum. I know that I don’t. When you’re being evaluated for a promotion, your boss will “rely on others to assess your ability, which means you need supporters across the organization — people who are aware of the work you’re doing.”

Being the person who others go to for help, and who has established their skills and professionalism, will boost the chance of glowing input from your colleagues.

Own The Outcome, Not Just The Assignment

In the age of AI, it’s more valuable than ever when employees take ownership of the tasks they’re responsible for.

What does that mean in practice?

Ensuring that a task is completed properly, start to finish. Whether you’re delegating to an automated tool or a junior employee, create check points for confirming that the work meets the organization’s standards. For example, if you’re tapping ChatGPT for research, click the links—ensure that all of the sources are reliable and support your conclusions. Maintain control over the final sign-offs. If a project is lagging behind, rather than waiting for someone else to advance it, be proactive about resolving the issue. Communicate with stakeholders if deadlines shift. When a project doesn’t pan out as hoped, as inevitably happens from time to time, figure out what went wrong, identify the teachable moments, and share them. Something I’ve found especially useful for the younger generation of employees: if you know of a tool or app that can accomplish a task or step faster or better, be vocal about those ideas with your managers.

Knowing that employees are invested in and accountable for their work also makes your boss’s job easier, not to mention, eases their everyday anxiety.

The Career Mistake Ambitious People Often Make

Ambition is priceless. When you go above and beyond, rather than clocking it in by doing the bare minimum, it not only helps your organization, it creates a sense of investment in your work. It drives engagement.

That said, don’t let your aspirations for your career’s future derail you from its present.

“No matter how big your ambitions, don’t let them distract you from excelling in your current role. Focus on the present as much as — or more than — the future,” notes Harvard Business Review .

If your workload ramps up, it’s okay to scale back your leadership efforts for a bit and focus on fulfilling your current role.

Like the world around us, companies aren’t static. Workflows ebb and flow with the seasons and with external changes. If you have to reduce your scope, for a day or a week, tomorrow is another day for showing your leadership potential.