SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 210,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each week in our e-newsletter.
How well do you take on the role of being an informal leader without direct authority?
- Very — I regularly step into leadership roles and lead informally: 74%
- Somewhat — I occasionally step into informal leadership roles : 23%
- Not very — I tend to shy away from assuming informal leadership roles: 1%
- Not at all — It’s rare that I’m in the role of informal leader: 1%
Leaders don’t have to be appointed. Leadership opportunities abound every day. The question is whether or not you step into the role. Those who step into them without being appointed or asked embody the definition of leadership. These roles, however, are not without risk. Three keys to successful informal leadership include taking risks, being direct, and taking action. If you’re going to step into one of these roles, do it wholeheartedly as your odds of success go up when you do.
Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS, author of the upcoming book “The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved” and “One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership.”