Imagine a scenario where you’re tasked with leading a high-impact project, but without an official promotion or title. It’s a challenge many face, especially in today’s dynamic workplace, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to showcase your leadership. Leadership without authority is not about a fancy job title, but about how you inspire, influence, and elevate others with your knowledge, skills, and mindset.
Building influence without authority is an essential skill that empowers professionals to lead by example. This is how many celebrated leaders and sports figures like MS Dhoni (Indian cricket) or Ratan Tata (Tata Group) have gained respect beyond their titles, creating impactful change through influence, emotional intelligence, and trust.
Here are some key steps to help you build influence without positional authority:
- Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (Founder, theBoardlist): Despite not being a household name, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy has had a remarkable career in leadership roles at Google and as a founder of startups. Her work in promoting diversity through theBoardlist shows how creating networks and fostering relationships can lead to great influence without relying on a specific title. She built influence through a mission-focused approach, demonstrating that leadership can come from purposeful advocacy.
- Tanya Menon (Professor, Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University): Menon is not a corporate CEO, yet her influence as a leadership educator is profound. Her expertise on organizational behavior, influence, and networking has helped countless professionals lead more effectively without formal authority. Through her research, she highlights how persuasion, storytelling, and understanding the motives of others can elevate one’s leadership impact in any organization.
- Juliana Chan (Founder, Wildtype Media Group): Juliana built Wildtype Media, a company specializing in STEM communication, from the ground up without a powerful position or name in the industry. She became a trusted voice through her dedication to content creation in the niche area of science publishing. Her ability to influence the media space came from being an expert in her field, rather than any formal title.
- Ben Chestnut (Co-founder of Mailchimp): Ben Chestnut may be lesser-known compared to tech giants, but he led Mailchimp to success without traditional venture capital or the backing of an extensive board of directors. Instead, he influenced his team through authenticity, focusing on their needs, and allowing employees to take ownership of their projects. This hands-off approach allowed Mailchimp to thrive, and Ben became a strong leader known more for his principles than his position.
To conclude, leadership is not defined by titles but by your ability to influence, inspire, and navigate the complexities of the workplace. As Robin Sharma says in his famous book "The Leader Who Had No Title," it’s about being great in every role you play, regardless of position. Keep honing these skills, and you’ll naturally become a leader others look to—whether or not you hold the title.
