3 Ways to Lead Without a Title

“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.” —Brian Tracy

If you desire to one day to take your career to the next level and become a leader, leadership usually begins before you earn the title, not after you receive the promotion. Even if you don’t desire to manage up, you can still display leadership qualities that will benefit your workflow and the people around you. Here are a few strategies to lead from the front even if you don’t have the title to back it.

Learn from Experienced Leaders

Do you admire the leadership abilities of someone you work with or have worked with in the past? Maybe you respect someone outside of work who exemplifies good leadership. Take time and think about the traits you admire in that person. Are they good communicators? Do they demonstrate servant leadership? Do they solve problems or lead with integrity? Along with their strengths, ask those leaders about the hurdles or challenges they’ve faced in the workplace and how they overcame adversity. There are plenty of books and podcasts available that can help you identify the different leadership styles and habits you want to exhibit at work.

Take Initiative, Do More

We need to occasionally stretch ourselves in order to be effective leaders. Consider how you can expand on the responsibilities listed in your job description by going beyond your typical duties. When you would usually keep your head down and thoughts to yourself, offer to take on a new project or to lead a meeting. Your supervisors and peers will begin to view you as the “go-to” person as a result of your dependability and strong work ethic as you take on new job activities.

Motivate and Inspire Others

Leadership includes more than just being good at what you do. Good leaders lead by example. Motivate and inspire those around you by cultivating your work relationships. Recognize a co-worker for a job well done on a recent project, presentation, or promotion. You can also ask your co-workers for their thoughts on leadership. Your attitude matters, and if you have positive interactions with others around you, they will remember how you made them feel, and they may even begin to regard you as a leader.

Leadership doesn’t always require having a title behind it. You can demonstrate your potential by how you contribute your efforts in your work and how you interact with others. If you’re interested in being a leader at work don’t wait, start now.