Lead from Every Seat: How Problem Solving and Initiative Can Drive Impact and Career Growth

What if the impact you want to make isn’t about your title or position, but about how you listen, act, and solve problems that others might overlook?

Early in my time at Microsoft, I made a critical decision: I was going to become a problem eliminator.

Listening intently to what leadership was saying, to what my customers needed, and to the challenges my teams were facing, I crafted a very unorthodox Moneyball-style engagement approach—a methodical, data-driven strategy that ultimately generated over $1 billion in revenue and countless opportunities for my career.

But it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about seeing a need, filling it, and creating a lasting impact. And that’s what I want to talk about today—how you can lead from every seat, create leadership opportunities for yourself that have broad impact, and get noticed for new opportunities.

A few years ago, I noticed there were 80+ colleagues in roles similar to mine, all facing similar challenges—but none of us were talking to each other. So I created a monthly rhythm where we came together, shared resources, vented and learned from each other.

Impact was immediate. Ideas that were born there started showing up in team meetings, strategy sessions, and, most importantly, results.

So, how can you apply this in your own career?

Identify the Gap: Look around your organization. What’s missing? Where are the pain points? What challenges are people facing that aren’t being addressed?

Take Initiative: Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to lead. Step up and take action. Whether it’s starting a new initiative or offering to help a colleague with a project, leadership is about doing what needs to be done.

Build a Community: Create opportunities for collaboration, whether it’s a formal group or an informal network of peers. The more people you can involve, the greater your impact will be.

Share the Spotlight: True leaders don’t hoard credit. They share it. As you create leadership opportunities, make sure to recognize and celebrate the contributions of others. This not only builds trust and loyalty, but it also amplifies the impact of your initiative.

Measure the Impact: To get noticed for your leadership, you need to be able to show the results. Track the impact of your initiative—whether it’s improved team performance, increased collaboration, or better outcomes for your customers. Use these metrics to build your case when new opportunities arise.

Be Persistent: Leading from every seat isn’t always easy. There will be challenges, setbacks, and resistance along the way. But persistence is key. Keep pushing forward, keep refining your approach, and keep focusing on the impact you want to make.

So, I challenge you: What gap do you see? What need can you address?

The opportunity is there, waiting for you to seize it.

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