I remember like it was yesterday.  March 2004, two months before graduating, I landed my first job out of college with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.  Like many of my peers I was happy to be employed, but the overachiever inside was plotting on how to fast track through the company’s corporate structure and become the woman in charge.

Unless you’re in a small minority of people who come out of school with a business ready made, chances are you’ve worked for someone other than yourself.  According to data on statiscbrain.com, of the 318 million people in America, only 400,400 are CEO’s – so it’s highly likely that you’ll always work for someone.  However, you shouldn’t let that fact limit your leadership capacity.

Leading when you’re not in charge can be frustrating but it doesn’t have to be. Here are five ways to lead without limits at any level.

1. Pursue purpose not position

My mom always told me “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”  Although this sounds positional, what my mom really taught was to pursue purpose and exceed expectations at any level.  Pursing purpose on the job enables you to realize your contribution is a significant piece of a much larger puzzle. When you pursue purpose, position becomes null and void.  Common thoughts like “that’s not my job” and “someone else will do it” are eliminated.

2. Lead Thyself

Leading when you’re not in charge starts with leading you.  Focus on leading yourself by making an intentional plan for your own development, monitoring your attitude, demonstrating excellence, and developing discipline.  If you can lead yourself, inevitably you will become desirable and the people in charge will want to lead you as well.  As a result you may be trusted to lead next.

3. Apply the FANFI Principle

Find A Need And Fill It (FANFI)! In his book Common Sense Business, Steve Gottry discusses the FANFI principle.  The thing that separates leaders from everyone else is they aren’t waiting on the person in charge to tell them what to do.  They’re knocking their job out and finding and filling other needs with in the organization as well.

4. Choose accomplishment over authority

Leaders are goal oriented and constantly look for ways to improve.  They understand that authority doesn’t equal accomplishment.  Instead of dwelling on authority you don’t have, harness the power you do have to accomplish something unimaginable. Then, in turn, inspire others and multiply the impact.

5. Think Critically

Regardless of title, position, salary, or authority, great leaders at any level are constantly thinking….

• How can our programs or products become better?
• What can we do to create an amazing experience for our customer?
• After we achieve this task what’s the next goal to tackle?

Simply put, think like the owner and not like an employee.  Thinking critically enables you to contribute to driving the organization forward.

What i’ve learned over the years is there is a difference between the practice of power and the practice of leadership. The practice of power is all about position, control, and authority.  Conversely, the practice of leadership begins with assuming that you aren’t “in charge”.  Once this is embraced as a starting point, if you are able to mobilize others to accomplish amazing things, then you are a leader who may eventually end up in charge of more.

Question: The best part of writing is hearing from YOU! Have you ever struggled with leading cause you’re not in charge? Join the conversation by commenting below or on FB. You can also tweet me @jenae_jones #LeadBeyondLimits. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Like This Post? My mission is to share actionable ways to help you immediately break your limits, build your impact, and become the change you want to see in the world.  If you found this post helpful or know someone who could take advantage of this topic pass it on.  Sharing is Caring! It’s as easy as clicking below ↓