“I’m not in a leadership role.”
Most of us have said this at some point, or heard others say it. We tend to associate leadership with titles and formal responsibilities, as though leadership begins when someone gives us a position.
But think about the people who have really shaped your work. It might have been the teacher down the hall who checked in after a tough lesson, or a colleague who asked the question that no one else would. Perhaps it was someone who experimented with a new approach and shared how it went. I’m willing to bet many of those people didn’t hold an official leadership role. Yet they had a lasting influence, at least in part because they earned your respect. That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t require a title.
So how do you lead from where you are? I’m sure there’s more than one answer, but I keep coming back to five things that really matter: building trust; modeling the way; taking a problem-solving stance; communicating clearly; and sharing the why.
1. Build trust.
When people know you have their interests in mind, they’re far more willing to listen to you. This doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with all your coworkers. It’s about showing up in a way that others respect, and that shows you care about something beyond yourself. The kinds of behaviors that help build such relationships may include taking a moment to:
- Check in with colleagues, especially when they’re having a tough week.
- Give credit and celebrate others’ wins publicly.
- Learn what matters to them, including the constraints and pressures they are navigating.
- Follow through on what you said you’d do – even the small things.
2. Model the way.
If you want to be on a team that owns its mistakes, own yours first and do it out loud. If you want meetings that start on time, be the one who’s always there when they start. Modeling a behavior is quiet, but it can be more persuasive than speeches, policies, and mission statements combined. It sets a standard and shows that standard is possible.
- Reflect on your language, attitude, and the role you play in meetings and conversations.
- Be present and engaged, putting away distractions and contributing while you’re in the room.
- Be a curious learner and ask about what others are thinking, noticing, and wondering.
- Hold yourself to the standards you’d like to see from others, even when no one is watching.
3. Take a problem-solving stance.
It is a lot easier to point out a problem than it is to figure out what might work better. When you see an issue, resist the urge to stop at naming it. Instead, get curious and think creatively about possible solutions and share them. Your idea might not be the one the team ultimately uses, and that’s okay. Your belief that problems can be solved and your willingness to help solve them will be contagious.
- Take a breath and stay calm, even when things feel stuck.
- Pair a concern with a possible solution when you raise it.
- Frame ideas as possibilities (“What if we tried…?”) to invite others in.
- Offer to help pilot or test a solution.
4. Communicate clearly and often.
Clear communication means saying what you actually mean, checking that it landed, and being willing to repeat it. It also means listening, really listening, not just waiting for your chance to talk. And it means being responsive, answering requests even when the answer is “no” or “I don’t know.”
- Speak up in the meeting instead of venting in the parking lot afterward.
- Ask a quick question to confirm your message landed the way you intended.
- Listen to understand, not just to reply.
- Close the loop on requests, even when you don’t yet have an answer.
5. Share your “why”.
Rationales, not rules. If I were going to print a catchphrase on a t-shirt, that would be it. A rationale gives people something to connect with and helps them consider how to apply an idea within their own context. When you explain why something matters to you, who it helps, and what problem it solves, you invite people to become partners, not followers.
- Ground suggestions in what you’ve seen in your own classroom, since colleagues trust real experience.
- Ask “what problem are we trying to solve?” when a new initiative lands, and help your team find the answer.
- When discussing changes with families or administrators, explain how the change will benefit students and make a difference in their learning.
Start from wherever you sit.
You don’t need permission or position to lead.
This week, choose one of these five areas and practice it on purpose. Check in with a colleague. Be the first to try something new. Ask a question that helps your team think differently. Have the conversation you’ve been putting off. Be generous with the rationales behind your thinking.
After all, leadership isn’t something you’re handed when you receive a title. It’s something you practice, one interaction at a time, every day.
Call to Action—
Want to keep growing as a leader – whatever your current role may be? Take a look at our Online Graduate Certificate in Literacy Coaching & Teacher Leadership.
