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I'm not in a leadership position." I hear that all the time. And it's wrong.
Leadership isn't a position on the org chart. It's a set of behaviors anyone can
demonstrate. The people who get promoted into leadership roles are the ones who
were already leading before anyone gave them permission.
Four levels. Level one — lead yourself. Show up on time. Keep your commitments.
Manage your energy and emotions. This sounds basic but watch how many people
don't do it consistently. Level two — lead your work. Take ownership beyond your
job description. See a process that's broken? Fix it. Notice an opportunity
everyone's ignoring? Raise it. Level three — lead others. Mentor a junior
colleague. Facilitate a team discussion. Help a struggling teammate. You don't
need direct reports to develop people. Level four — lead the organization.
Contribute ideas that improve culture, efficiency, or strategy. This is where
you catch the attention of senior leaders.
Most leadership happens without authority. You influence through expertise,
relationships, and trust. You persuade through data, storytelling, and genuine
concern for the team's success. The best leaders I've known didn't command —
they inspired. And they started doing it long before anyone gave them a title.
Pick one leadership action at each level and do it this week. Lead yourself.
Lead your work. Lead others. Lead the organization. You don't need anyone's
permission. Last lesson — when and how to make smart career moves.