How to lead when you're not the boss
Leadership abilities are important in every role. Even if you don't have management or supervision responsibilities, how you act and engage with people can make you a true leader that delivers results and creates impact. In this Reader, we share advice and tips on gaining confidence and leading, even if you’re not the boss.
What does leading without a title look like?
Fiona Mungai, the Chief Officer for Innovation and Business Development at Twiga Foods, shares her experience of learning to lead without a formal leadership title. Twiga Foods is a Kenyan-founded and led organization recently chosen as one of Time100's Most Influential Companies of 2022. Before her time at Twiga, the 36-year-old was the Managing Director for Endeavor in Kenya, where she worked to scale up local entrepreneurs. Today, she has these titles, but this wasn’t always the case…
Taking up critical leadership positions when you're young is intimidating. But what Fiona says propelled her leadership journey was her appetite to lead early on, before she ever got direct managerial responsibility. At the beginning of her career, her then boss - keen on ensuring her growth - had her sit in on board meetings, representing him and the company she worked for. As she continued to gain his trust, she was made the project lead in large transactions.
"I was intimidated. My boss was keen to develop my leadership capacity, so he had me sit in on board meetings, and represent the company in other ways. Without carrying any 'weighty' formal titles, I struggled with confidence during these meetings with accomplished leaders in both the private and public sectors. Over time, I realized that my ability to get things done, communicate clearly, think strategically, and build trust with my team is what would make me a true leader, not a big title."
She adds:
"My biggest advice for anyone with leadership responsibility, but is not necessarily the boss, is to adopt a learning attitude. Be hungry for knowledge, be collaborative, seek mentorship and guidance, and always be extremely prepared when you're called upon to lead, whether it's a significant project or even a simple meeting. This helps you to build trust and gain respect amongst your team and stakeholders. You'll need to put in a lot of extra work; leadership isn't easy, but the results are worth it."
Top tips on how to lead when you’re not the boss
Support the existing leadership. The key to leading without a title is not to try and ‘outsmart or oust’ the current leader or boss. Ensure that you are constantly connecting with them, communicating effectively, and working to maintain the relationship. Collaborate with them rather than challenge them. Be their biggest supporter and learn from them - they are a leader for a reason.
Build trust with your team. For people to believe in you, follow your guidance, and confide in you, they need to trust you. Trust is the cornerstone of leadership. Remember that leadership is something people allow you to do, especially when you don’t have a formal title. How do you gain and keep trust as a leader?
Be authentic; be who you are.
Do what you say you’re going to do.
Respect and celebrate others for who they are.
Be transparent and accountable.
Don’t gossip - be open and honest with others.
Welcome feedback and learn from it.
Be useful. If you want to lead when not the 'leader' you have to be valued and valuable to your team and those in authority. This means knowing what is most needed by the team, your partners or beneficiaries and offering support to make it happen. Find ways to help others that are truly useful to them. You’ll need to build enduring relationships with your team to do this well. Offer insightful input, and demonstrate your ability to be a supportive team player.
Practice emotional intelligence. The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership cannot be overstated. As a leader without “positional authority” - i.e the boss - understanding and managing your own emotions and recognizing the emotions of those around you will set you apart from the rest. Put people first, show empathy and genuine concern, and create psychological safety for the team that you work with.
Be yourself. Practicing authentic leadership and being your real self builds trust and allows you to have greater impact. Being your authentic self requires you to build self-awareness and emotional maturity. Use tools (we love MBTI and CliftonStrengths) to understand your strengths and areas of challenge and bring in the support you need. Openly embrace both success and failure.
Be a communications champion. All leaders - with or without formal titles - must communicate well and clearly, both internally (with your team) and externally (with partners, government, communities, etc.). Be simple and direct, project positive body language, and learn to read the room.
Create a support system. It doesn’t necessarily have to be within your organization. Your support system could include your peers, professional mentors, or a career coach. Learning from others is important, especially for those who’ve been in a similar leadership position and excelled at it.
Adopt a growth mindset. Ensure that you're constantly improving and learning. Encourage constructive feedback, which helps you know your growth areas. Take the time to reflect and adapt. Even when you’re not the boss, leadership is dynamic - every day presents challenges. You don’t have to have all the answers; lean on your team for their knowledge and expertise too.
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