Being A Leader, No Matter Your Job Title
According to the American Dictionary, a leader is “a person who manages… other people, especially because of his or her ability or position”.
But what if you don’t hold a management position or leadership team role? Can you still be a leader? If you’re anything like me, you have asked yourself this many times over the course of your career.
I used to think that a leader was pretty much what that definition stated – the person at the top, the manager to be followed, the one holding decision-making powers and influence to make things happen. It seemed that a title was at least part of what made a leader.
But over time my thinking began to shift. Not because I didn’t believe in the leaders wherever I was working, but because I came to the realisation that I could also be a leader. I was totally capable of setting an example to be followed or be influential within my own role.
I could help to lead those around me – no matter my place within a team – through meaningful actions, encouraging work relationships and a positive attitude.
If you’re doubting whether you’re a leader or not, here’s a small list of things you can do within your workplace to show that you indeed are a leader:
Take action
Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to act on opportunities to use your expertise or make decisions that are within your remit to make.
Connect with others
When you build and strengthen relationships with your team, clients or other stakeholders, your connections should be seen as growing leadership skills.
Lead by example
You don’t need to be the boss or tell people what to do to prove you’re a leader. Your hard work, integrity and dedication to the cause will shine through.
Help others
Whether through supporting others, offering assistance with a project, sharing knowledge, being a sounding board for new ideas or celebrating their wins, being a colleague that others can turn to for help is a great sign of leadership.
So, let your actions show that you a leader, no matter what your job title is.