In a past job, I had a talented individual on my team. I recognized her skills and asked her if she’d like to lead an innovative technology project we were working on. Her response was that this project was not in her job description and that, even though she had time, she was not interested if she wasn’t going to receive extra compensation. 

I turned to another team member, who immediately said yes. Although she had no background in this particular area, she was eager to learn and jumped into the new project wholeheartedly. She educated herself and quickly began to add value in getting others to adopt the new technology we’d invested in. When it came time for promotions, guess which team member advanced? The person who had said yes to the project got an elevated role – in part because she had developed valuable new skills but largely because she had demonstrated both influence and leadership.

“To become an influential person at work, we’re often told we must rise through the ranks or collect a series of fancy credentials,” says a Harvard Business Review article. “But this is a big misconception.”

The HBR article asserts that most people don’t think of themselves as leaders if it is not part of their title or job description. But, leadership is a skill. Being an influential leader has little to do with your rank in the organization or your title. You can be a leader through your influence, regardless of whether you manage people or have a P&L. And, as many of us have experienced – and as a recent Fast Company article headline pointed out: “Being a manager does not make you a leader.”

Leading when you are not the boss requires a certain mindset. A boss’s authority or power may come from their level in the organization, their experience or their resources. But a true leader’s authority comes from their ability to influence others, whether that is in helping create policy, get a project done, or shape a pleasant and supportive workplace. 

You can add value regardless of your title. Even if you don’t want more responsibility or a new job at your organization, you can still contribute simply through your leadership mindset. And if you are looking to advance, think about leveraging your influence in positive ways. As my example proved, people with a leadership mindset don’t wait for a promotion to take on new challenges, but see them as opportunities to develop or advance. 

At the end of the day, you can lead just by being a force for good. Helping your colleagues – and your boss – improve productivity, generate new ideas or have a more enjoyable workplace will ultimately add to everyone’s success. 

Here are 10 ways you can be a leader even when you are not the boss.

• Wield influence, not orders. Use positive persuasion rather than being in command mode with your colleagues.
• Inspire. Think big. Explain the “why” and motivate your colleagues and leaders to do more and be more.
• Seize opportunities. Say yes to learning experiences that strengthen both you and the organization.
• Mentor. Share your skills and insights with others, and be a listening ear.
• Commit time for growth. Prioritize your own learning and development, and be willing to help others advance their skills.
• Be a connector. Put people and ideas together, always thinking of how to facilitate dialogue, innovation or a positive culture.
• Be a part of the team. See yourself in the team, not outside it or above it. Ask, “How can I help?” rather than assuming that everything is someone else’s job.
• Look for the good. Even when times are challenging, find what is positive and point it out. 
• Innovate. Anyone can have good ideas. Be on the lookout for how to improve your organization and share your thoughts.
• Say thank you. A great leader appreciates what others are doing. Recognize your colleagues and lift them up.