Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re required to complete a major project; however, you’re not the one in charge?
Of course, you have! Although I have held leadership positions most of my career, I have not always been the one in charge. Yet, I led.
So, you ask, how is it possible to lead when you’re not the one in charge? It seems so difficult, right? Leadership experts insist that leadership is influence. So, the million-dollar question is this; how can I lead without being in charge?
One of the most difficult things to do is to try to influence change when you’re not part of the decision-making process. However, no matter how challenging it may seem, it’s entirely possible to make an impact in your group, team, or organization. How, you might ask?
Here are three principles I’ve learned for leading others when you’re not in charge:
- Lead yourself well
- Be value-driven
- Cultivate a sense of purpose
Let me take a moment to explain each of these principles…
Principle #1: Lead yourself well; Fundamentally, you must lead yourself well so that you can successfully lead others. The leadership of oneself carries a great deal of significance if you want to lead others. When you carry yourself with dignity, demonstrate self-discipline, and add value to others, you will begin to inspire the same in those around you.
People who understand the concept of self-leadership also know how to develop goals and achieve them. When you lead yourself well, you’ll notice that you will attract people to your causes, even when you are not the one in charge.
” If you can bring out the best in you, you don’t need to be in charge to bring out the best in others .”
Dr. Kim Moore
Principle #2: Be a value-driven person; Yes, leading when you’re not in charge is not an easy thing; however, your values will make a difference. When you espouse strong values and are consistent with them, you’ll influence others. To succeed in the art of leadership of others, you must show that you believe in something, and live according to your beliefs.
People respect leaders who stand for the values they believe in, even when some others may believe differently. The great thing with being a value-driven person is that your values will inspire those around you, even without you having a title or authority.
Principle #3: Cultivate a sense of purpose; Some people live life without understanding their purpose. For many people, this leads them to live unhappy and unfulfilling lives. To mitigate these circumstances, you can help them identify and fulfill their purposes.
If you are able to bring out the best in others and inspire them to learn their purpose, you are leading them well. When you can create a vision for those around you and help them find significance in their present circumstances, you are leading them well. You can do this, even when you’re not in charge.
Now that you understand the principles I espouse for leading when you’re not in charge, let me tell you about my secret ingredient…
In many cases, when people who are not in charge struggle to make an impact, they often become negative. The challenge this poses is they can’t successfully lead themselves or others with a negative attitude. It’s important to be positive, even when negative circumstances surround you.
Yes, my secret ingredient is always being positive, regardless of the circumstances. Here’s why…
Everyone likes to lean on positive people in times of crisis. It’s not a matter of if but when a crisis will happen. Your positive attitude alone can be the antidote to a person or team that is about to break. Therefore, stay positive, and you’ll be able to influence others, even though you’re not the one in charge.
As my mentor says:
“Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less”
Dr. John C. Maxwell
What many people don’t realize is it’s a myth that you need to be in charge to be influential. It takes willingness and commitment for one to lead effectively.
Let me say this again, whatever position you hold in your organization, you have influence.
Are you leading when you’re not in charge?
#YourLeadershipGuide
Kim
View the “MOORE Leadership Moment” podcast HERE
Lead Confidently | Expand Influence | Achieve Significance
Nicely written.
I’ve worked with Crossroads Career Services and this is an exciting training. What options are there for those who are unable to meet at time of the training?
Thanks for these insights. I am starting a Mentorship program for incarcerated women today and these principles will help.