How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority

by Clay Scroggins

leadership culture where the people who are responsible for executing a decision are the ones with the authority to make the decision.

“There are two things I hate: Change and the way things are.”

If you are at the bottom of the corporate ladder right now, start leading in a way that people in every position can respect.

The quality of any individual’s job will be determined by three key variables: • What you do • Whom you do it with • How much money you make

If the who (the coworkers and the boss) are not enjoyable, then either the work or the pay has to be great.

As a leader, it is your responsibility to create an environment where people enjoy their work and find meaning in it.

Value every opinion, especially those that contradict your own. • Tell people you value the work they are putting in. • Lead by action first and word second.

• Express expectations and make sure those around you know what you want and need from them. • Provide as much encouragement and affirmation as possible. • Be efficient with tasks and effective with people. Don’ts: • Underestimate the intern. • Ignore an idea/belief/criticism shared by more than one person. • Take the people who are doing the dirty work for granted. • Schedule meetings that have no clear goal or purpose. • Act as if you’re better than everyone, even if you are. • Undervalue the time others are putting in to make your job easier.