How Can You Lead Even If You Are Not A Boss?
Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want. – Dianne Feinstein, US Senator.
Leadership and communication, the two essential terms in the above quote, draw a picture of how an organization or a company performs, internally and externally.
Irrespective of the industry, the company’s success, based on employee and consumer satisfaction, relies on leadership.
Your leadership skills, motivation, and vision can produce employee and consumer satisfaction, increase revenue, and enhance the company’s reputation. But the path to success while leading a team can be difficult if you are not the boss.
It is pretty tricky, you are expected to encourage the team members while acting as a team leader, and you also have to manage various responsibilities without holding any authority. However, you can become an exceptional leader through relevant skills, learning leadership qualities, applying discipline, and developing a positive attitude.
By combining a self-motivated approach and the factors mentioned above, you can influence your team to get the job done the way you want.
So, here are primary tips on how to lead when you are not a boss.
Establishing goals: You will achieve the most when you are clear about your goals and objectives. The first order of any business is to write down precisely what it wants to achieve. When you ask about discussing and deciding the goals, you automatically enter into the leadership role irrespective of your position.
Systematic thinking: Observe the next meeting; the team members will typically dive into the topic at hand and argue over what to do. So, as an influential leader, you need to think systematically, i.e., collect necessary data, analyze the causes of the situation, and propose necessary actions based on the analysis.
Learning from experience: Your team might complete a project and then ask for a review, but it is best to review the project while it is on. When you assist the team in engaging in regular in-between checks and allow the members to learn, you assume the role of a leader. The advantage of in-between reviews, the events are fresh, and the members can make changes in the project to achieve the goals.
Engaging team members: A performing team engages the efforts of each member, and an effective team leader seeks the best fit possible between the interests and tasks of the members. Suggest writing down a list of chores and match them with individuals or subgroups. Suppose no one wants a particular task; find out ways to make that task more exciting. Help the quieter members so that they feel being a part of the overall project.
Feedback: Normally, it is the boss who provides feedback, but you aren’t the boss, but when you are leading, you can always appreciate the efforts of the team members. You’ll be able to help the team to improve their performance and effectiveness through coaching. Ask questions about their experiences during the project or what made them accomplish the task or was the project hard to complete. Result – the members will offer their suggestions. These suggestions will assist you in making their lives easy.
Now let’s check out secondary but vital tips for a leader.
- Maintain clear and precise communication with your team and peers. Ensure your communication reflects your thinking/thoughts.
- Politeness will heighten your respect and reputation. Ensure to be polite even when you are saying NO.
- Being rigid can ruin the progress and result of the projects. Learn to be flexible, focus on results, and choose the right and simple way to get the job done.
- Supporting and helping others will not decrease your value. Look for opportunities to support the team members whenever they need, help them succeed, and achieve the organization’s goals. They will be grateful for your assistance. Ensure not supporting the wrong stuff.
Last but not least, ignite healthy competition among members while proving your worth through inspiration, experience, and excellent leadership skills.