Have you experienced leadership without a title? It’s highly likely.
When you imagine a leader, many automatically envision a CEO, team captain, supervisor, or something similar. Most people do. While these roles are leadership roles, it is important to note that a leadership position is not necessary for someone to be a leader. Leadership roles come with the job description explaining the leader’s responsibilities but they are not needed to lead. A true leader can lead with or without a title.
You don’t have to be on top of the hierarchy to set an example. Doing the right thing as the CEO or the lowest person on the totem pole can show others its impact. Lead by taking responsibility for your mistakes, showing discipline, being productive, and a number of other ways. If you lead by example and do it without seeking attention for it, you will eventually find yourself in a leadership position. Always consider how you can better yourself and your organization and then do it.
Do the Unseen Work, Too
Far too often people tackle the work that others see because it garners recognition. While that is understandable, the unseen work is just as, if not more, important than the seen. Think about the things that need to be done that go unrecognized. Sales calls are praised when the result is a sale – but what about the hundreds that are not profitable? They are necessary for getting successful calls and help to develop skills, but sales reps are not recognized for the number of calls they make. That doesn’t make them any less valuable.
Develop Your Skills, Then Display Them
Too often people work hard to develop leadership skills and then hide them away until they’re ready to put to the test. Don’t put your skills away – use them when you have them! Be proactive and you might see your skills making a difference no matter what your title is. You don’t have to brag about what you’ve learned, but you can humbly display what you’ve been working toward before you’ve been asked to use your skillset.
Empower Others
Empowering people is a huge component of leadership. However, you don’t need to be the “boss” before you can do that. For instance, thanking a coworker for their hard work on a project can empower them to continue working hard. Although their efforts may not have impacted your job personally, a win for the team is a win for you. Remember this when empowering others within your organization or team and you’ll become a leader without a title.
Leadership without a title is more common when many are empowered.
Systems are, essentially, how you get things done. What systems do you have in place for your most productive, efficient, and successful tasks? Sharing those systems with others can have a huge impact on the rest of the organization. Even when you are in an entry-level position, implementing effective systems in all areas of the organization illuminates your abilities and willingness to be a team player. The same goes for any innovative ideas you’ve applied to your work. Share some tips!
Refuse to Conform to Your Role
Your job description should never place limitations on what you can accomplish. Although there may be some lines that have been drawn, know that you can do more than just what has been spelled out. Practicing leadership skills is not always a part of your current role, but you can find ways to do so without stepping on any toes. Remember, your job description is not a boundary to what you can accomplish; it is simply a general guideline. Become a leader without a title by stepping outside the box.
Positivity is Crucial
Have you ever worked with a negative person? It can be hard to work around! If you want to ‘lead up’ in your organization, positivity is key. Being positive doesn’t mean being unrealistic or ignoring problems; it means approaching problems with a positive attitude. “If we all work together as a team, we can meet this afternoon’s deadline,” or “Last month’s numbers were hard to accept, but we can learn from our mistakes,” are good examples of being positive in the midst of challenging times. Bringing this positivity to the table is being a leader without a title.
Positivity inspires leadership without a title.
Thank When You Cannot Reward
Leadership roles tend to have the power when it comes to rewarding employees for a job well done. However, a genuine thank you goes a long way! By ensuring that your teammates or coworkers understand that their efforts are appreciated, you can lead without a title. Try a simple thank you in conversation, a card, or even a small gift for their efforts. Acknowledging why their work has impacted you or your work is important in becoming a leader with or without the role.
Don’t Shy Away from Problems
It might be easy to see a problem and think, glad I’m not the one in charge of handling that! I’m sure a lot of people have had this sentiment. Those that want to lead are those that see a problem and think, what can I do to solve this? While you might have to run your solution through the hierarchy, you shouldn’t avoid solving problems because you might not get recognized for them.
While good leaders will give you the recognition you might crave, leaders also act when an issue arises without hesitation. A leader without a title is one that will step in to solve the problem when it isn’t his or her job. Leadership without titles are often the ones solving problems regularly.
Manage Expectations
What are your expectations as someone that wants to lead? Big paychecks, authority, and other expectations might be realistic down the line, but you cannot simply wake up one day and magically get these things. You have to start somewhere. Start by managing your expectations. Stop thinking about what you’ll get if you go outside your job description and instead consider how you might improve by going outside your job description. Be realistic and work on yourself before you consider your external expectations.
Focus on the Vision
What is a leader without vision? You have to develop a vision for yourself and you have to grasp the vision for the organization to be a true leader. Even when you are not in a position to determine the vision for the organization, such as a leader without a title, it is essential to understand where the current leader wants to take the organization. Developing your own vision is also vital to understanding where you want to take yourself. Think about your personal expectations, goals, and plans. Write a vision statement for yourself. These things can help you to become a better leader.
Listen Before Speaking
Listening skills are imperative to leaders. Listening is far more than hearing. Active listening is a skill that requires practice and patience. Not only do you have to hear the words being said, but you have to read body language and tone to understand the meaning. You must also show that you’re listening by engaging but not interrupting, paraphrasing what is being said back to the speaker, asking questions to clarify, and retaining the information.
Active listening is one of the most important skills for a leader to have. Working on this skill before you are in a leadership role can help you to become the best leader you can be before you have the title.
Have the Initiative to Take the Lead
Have you ever been in a group where no one wants to step forward and lead? It can be messy, uncoordinated, unorganized, and incredibly stressful. Be that leader! Even when the task at hand is not something anyone truly wants to do, leading when you have an opportunity is a great way to get experience and practice at leading. You will discover what works as a leader and what doesn’t with practice and trial by error.
Know and Adhere to Boundaries
Boundaries are critical to all people. Not only do boundaries make people more comfortable and happy with their positions, but they also clarify what is acceptable and right. Just because you are comfortable with certain actions, such as taking work-related phone calls at home, does not mean that other people feel the same. Leaders that know the boundaries that their people hold and how to adhere to those boundaries are leaders that are far more likely to have a solid team with them. This is true for coworkers that are not in a leadership position.
Humility is a quality that goes a long way in successful leaders. While it can feel nice sometimes to brag about your accomplishments, a more humble approach is far more likable. This isn’t to say that you should hide away your successes, but to share them without boasting about how wonderful you are. Merriam-Webster defines humility as freedom from pride or arrogance. Skip the arrogant claims to fame and focus on modesty.
Take Risks (Within Reason)
Risk-taking is part of being a leader. Even when you find yourself without the leadership title, there are reasonable risks that you can take to get in the habit. Of course, there are some risks that should be avoided altogether, but analyzing the risk with the reward is a good way to determine if you should take that risk. Don’t shy away from risking it because you might fail. To fail is to learn. Learn from what works and what doesn’t work and carry it with you to decide on the next risk.
Mentor Others
Do you have experience in something that could help someone else? Consider a mentorship. Mentoring someone else is a great way to get your feet in the leadership pool. Whether this is helping your coworker become a fantastic presenter, working with at-risk teens in a volunteer capacity, or lending a helping hand to the interns at the office, you have the ability to mentor others. Find what you’re good at and help someone else to improve at it, too.
Lead Yourself
The truth is, everyone is a leader. We all have the ability to lead ourselves. Some individuals lead themselves down the wrong path, and others lead themselves into greener pastures. The choice is yours! What kind of leader do you want to be to yourself?
If you choose to actively lead yourself to a leadership position, you might focus on personal development. Or, you may want to lead yourself to become a more disciplined person. You can work on that, too. There are so many paths you can lead yourself down, but working toward it is what makes you the leader you want to be. Don’t let the title stop you – be a leader without a title today. You might be surprised to see where it gets you in the future.