Here’s the thing about leadership: nobody is going to just hand it to you. If you’re waiting for someone to magically recognize your potential and grant you a promotion, you might as well be waiting for a unicorn to deliver your morning coffee. It’s not happening.
Leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about how you show up. If you’re thinking, “I’ll step up once they recognize me as a leader,” you’ve got it backwards. You get recognized because you step up.
So, how do you get people to see you as a leader before you even have the title? Glad you asked.
Own Your Decisions Like You Mean Them
You know what doesn’t scream leadership? Someone who hedges every opinion like they’re trying to avoid stepping on a landmine.
- “Uh, I think maybe we should… but I don’t know, what do you guys think?”
- “Just an idea, but we could possibly… unless that’s dumb?”
- “I hate to be that person, but…”
No. Stop that.
Leaders don’t tiptoe around their ideas like they’re asking permission to exist. They state their thoughts with conviction. Even if they’re wrong, they own it.
Instead of:
- “I think this might be the best approach?”
Try: “Here’s the best approach, and here’s why.”
Instead of:
- “Sorry, can I add something?”
Try: “I have something to add.”
Instead of:
- “Just throwing this out there…”
Try: “Here’s what I propose.”
See the difference? One sounds like someone waiting for approval, the other sounds like someone worth listening to. Even if you’re still figuring things out, confidence makes people trust you.
But don’t forget—part of confidence is also knowing when to admit you got it wrong. A leader isn’t just someone who makes the tough calls; they’re also someone who owns it when those calls don’t pan out. Leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about making the best decision you can with the information you have, understanding that sometimes, you will be wrong.
The difference between a real leader and someone faking it? A real leader doesn’t double down on a bad decision out of pride. They recognize when something isn’t working, adjust course, and move forward—without letting ego get in the way. Because at the end of the day, people don’t just follow the person who sounds the most confident; they follow the one they can actually trust.
Stop Waiting for Permission to Step Up
Some people think leadership starts after they get promoted, but that’s like waiting to get fit before you start going to the gym. If you want to be seen as a leader, act like one now. That doesn’t mean barking orders like an underpaid movie villain. It means, if you want to be seen as a leader, you can’t sit around waiting for instructions like a robot on standby. Leadership isn’t about following orders—it’s about seeing what needs to be done and stepping up before someone asks.
Too many people stay stuck in their roles because they think their job is to do what they’re told and nothing more. They wait for direction, for permission, for someone higher up to tap them on the shoulder and say, “Hey, this is your moment to shine.” Spoiler: That moment never happens.
Leaders aren’t the ones sitting quietly, waiting for their next assignment. They’re the ones who:
- See a gap and fill it. If something’s missing, broken, or inefficient, they don’t wait for someone else to notice—they step in and fix it.
- Solve problems instead of just identifying them. Anyone can point out what’s wrong. Leaders are the ones who come with solutions, not complaints.
- Volunteer for challenges instead of avoiding them. If an opportunity comes up—whether it’s leading a project, improving a process, or handling an issue—leaders raise their hands. Even if they’re not 100% sure how they’ll do it, they trust themselves to figure it out.
Taking initiative doesn’t mean taking over—it means taking responsibility. It means you stop looking around for someone else to step up and realize that person might be you. And when you do it enough times, people start noticing. They start seeing you as the person who doesn’t need to be told what to do—they just do it.
Speak Up in Meetings Instead of Blending Into the Background
If you sit in a meeting like a ghost—quiet, invisible, just absorbing information without contributing—congratulations, you’ve made yourself forgettable. One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking their silence is neutral. It’s not. In a professional setting, if you’re not speaking up, you might as well be furniture. You’re there, but nobody’s really noticing you.
Leaders don’t fade into the background. They contribute. They ask questions. They offer insights. They take part in the conversation instead of just observing it.
Now, before you panic and think, But what if I don’t have anything groundbreaking to say?, let me stop you right there. You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room to speak up. You just need to engage. Try this instead:
- Ask a thoughtful question. Even if you don’t have an answer to add, asking the right question shows you’re paying attention and thinking critically.
- Back up someone else’s idea. You don’t have to be the one dropping knowledge bombs every five minutes. Supporting a colleague’s idea with an added perspective or example shows that you’re engaged and part of the discussion.
- Challenge something (respectfully). Leaders don’t just nod along to whatever is being said. If something doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification. If you see a flaw in a plan, bring it up. Nobody remembers the person who silently disagreed and kept their mouth shut.
- Summarize and connect the dots. If the conversation is all over the place, a simple “So if I’m understanding this correctly, we’re thinking about XYZ approach because of ABC reason?” can instantly make you the one steering the discussion into something useful.
And let’s be clear—this doesn’t mean you have to talk just for the sake of talking. Rambling nonsense or repeating what someone else already said just to be heard? That’s not leadership; that’s noise. But staying silent? That’s even worse.
The reality is, meetings are where reputations are built. If you never speak, you’re giving people zero evidence that you have leadership potential. If you want to be seen as a leader, you have to be part of the conversation.
Own Your Projects Instead of Just Following Instructions
If you want to be seen as a leader, stop treating your work like a checklist. Leaders don’t just do what they’re told—they take ownership of their projects like they actually care about the outcome.
There’s a huge difference between completing a task and owning a project. One makes you a good employee. The other makes you leadership material. If you’re just following instructions to the letter, you’re being a good worker. If you’re thinking ahead, anticipating challenges, and making sure the entire project is successful without waiting to be told what to do next, you’re leading.
Here’s what owning your projects actually looks like:
- Understanding the bigger picture. Instead of just focusing on your part, ask yourself: How does this project impact the team, the company, or the customer? Leaders don’t just execute tasks—they understand why the work matters.
- Thinking proactively. Don’t just wait for someone to hand you the next step. Identify problems before they happen. If you see a gap, fill it. If a deadline is slipping, flag it before it becomes an emergency.
- Holding yourself accountable. When you own a project, you’re responsible for its success—not just the parts you personally worked on. That means following up with others, making sure everything stays on track, and stepping in where needed.
- Making decisions instead of just asking for them. If every roadblock sends you running to your manager for answers, you’re still in follower mode. Leaders make judgment calls. They weigh the options, take action, and own the results.
- Following through to the end. Taking ownership means you don’t just finish your piece of the puzzle and call it a day. You see the entire project through to completion, ensuring it’s done well, not just done.
People who just complete tasks get forgotten. People who own their work and drive it forward get noticed. And the ones who get noticed? They’re the ones who move up.
Start Acting Like a Leader Before You Feel Like One
The biggest mistake people make is thinking, “I’ll lead when I feel ready.” No, you won’t. You’ll wait forever, watching less competent people get promoted while you sit there wondering why your amazing work hasn’t spoken for itself. Newsflash: it doesn’t work like that.
You don’t wait to feel ready. You fake it ‘til you make it.
Think about the first time you drove a car. You weren’t confident. You were gripping the wheel like it was a live grenade, convinced you were going to take out a mailbox at any second. But did you keep driving? Yes. And did you get better? Also yes. Leadership works exactly the same way.
Take on big challenges, even if they scare the hell out of you. Trust that you’ll figure it out. Everyone has access to the Google, right? If you don’t know how to do something, you learn. If you need to stay up late watching questionable YouTube tutorials on project management or reading leadership blogs that contradict each other, so be it. If you do this enough times, guess what? One day, you’ll wake up and actually know what you’re doing.
And that’s the secret—nobody really feels ready. Even the people who look like they have it all figured out? They’re just making slightly more educated guesses and hoping for the best. The main point is, leaders take the risk.
So if you’re waiting for the magical moment when you feel 100% prepared to step up, stop. That moment isn’t coming. Step up first, figure it out second. Keep taking those challenges, keep Googling like your job depends on it, and before you know it, you’ll be the one delegating. And then, someone else will be looking at you, wondering how you got so damn confident.
Build Relationships—Because Nobody Follows a Lone Wolf
You might be amazing at your job. You might be the most efficient, competent, get-sh*t-done person in the office. But if nobody wants to work with you? Congratulations, you’ve just been promoted to “Lone Genius Nobody Listens To.”
Leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about getting things done with other people. And unfortunately, that means you can’t just lock yourself in your workspace, knock out tasks like a machine, and expect everyone to magically recognize your brilliance. If you want to be seen as a leader, you have to make people want to follow you.
And let’s be clear—this does not mean being a people-pleasing doormat who bends over backward for every request. It means being the kind of person people trust, respect, and don’t secretly hope will get transferred to another department.
So, how do you do that?
- Give credit to others instead of hogging the spotlight. If you’re the person taking all the credit for team efforts, enjoy your short-lived moment of glory—because nobody’s going to back you when you actually need them. Leaders lift others up, not just themselves.
- Help people instead of just barking orders. Nobody likes a dictator in a cubicle. If your version of leadership is pointing at tasks like a medieval king and saying, “You handle this, peasant,” you’re doing it wrong. Step in when your team needs help.
- Follow through so people know they can rely on you. Nothing kills credibility faster than someone who talks a big game but never delivers. If you say you’ll do something, do it. Every time. No excuses, no “I got busy,” no disappearing act.
The strongest leaders aren’t always the loudest or the flashiest. They’re the ones people trust—the ones who have proven, time and time again, that when sh*t hits the fan, they’re the person you want in charge.
So, yes—be good at your job. But also? Be someone people actually want to work with. Because the reality is, nobody follows a lone wolf. They might admire them from a distance, but at the end of the day? They follow the ones who have their back.
Know When and How to Say, “I Don’t Know”
Nothing kills credibility faster than pretending you have all the answers when you clearly do not. People can smell BS from a mile away, and trust me, it stinks.
We’ve all seen it happen—someone gets asked a question in a meeting, and instead of just admitting they don’t know, they go into full-blown panic mode, throwing out random buzzwords like “We’ll need to synergize our approach and leverage cross-functional data streams for maximum impact.” Translation? They have no freaking clue.
Here’s the problem: pretending to know something doesn’t make you look smart—it makes you look untrustworthy. Real leaders don’t bluff their way through answers like a bad poker player trying to hide a losing hand. They admit when they don’t know something—but they follow it up with action.
Here’s how to do it right:
🚫 Wrong: “Uhh… yeah, sure, I think we can… probably… yeah, let’s do that.” (Translation: Please don’t ask any follow-up questions because I have no idea what I’m talking about.)
✅ Right: “I don’t have that answer right now, but I’ll find out and get back to you.” (Translation: I’m not going to make something up just to sound smart. I’ll actually get the correct answer and save us all from a future disaster.)
People don’t expect you to know everything. They just expect you to handle it. So, instead of pulling nonsense out of thin air and hoping nobody calls you on it, be the person who says, “Great question—I’ll get you a solid answer.”
Because you know what’s worse than saying “I don’t know”? Saying some made-up garbage that later comes back to bite you in the ass. And that’s why, once again, we love the Google. Commit to finding the answer—then pull up your search engine, start furiously typing like you’re solving a high-stakes FBI case, and figure it out.
Personally, I like to do mine with a bag of chips or some other guilty pleasure—because nothing pairs better with last-minute knowledge scrambling than stress snacking and regret. 😆
Act Like You Belong in the Room
You ever notice how some people just radiate leadership energy before they even say a word? Like, they walk into a room and everyone subconsciously takes them seriously, even if they’re just there to steal a free bagel from the breakroom? That’s presence. And it has absolutely nothing to do with job titles, tenure, or who has the fanciest PowerPoint slides.
Presence is all about how you carry yourself. It’s the difference between someone who looks like they belong and someone who looks like they accidentally wandered into the wrong meeting and is just trying not to get kicked out.
Here’s how to look like you actually belong:
- Speak clearly. No mumbling. No trailing off at the end of your sentences like you’re waiting for someone to cut you off. And for the love of coffee, stop apologizing for existing. If you have something to say, say it like it matters—because it does.
- Make eye contact. Not in a staring into their soul until they feel like you’re absorbing their life force kind of way, but enough to show you’re engaged. Looking at the floor or your hands the whole time? That screams “Please don’t perceive me.” You’re here, you belong, act like it.
- Take up space. No shrinking into your chair like you’re trying to physically disappear. Sit up, plant your feet, and own your damn seat at the table. If you act like you deserve to be there, people will assume you do.
And no, this doesn’t mean you need to be the loudest person in the room. Volume isn’t leadership. The guy who talks just to hear his own voice? Annoying. The person who waits for the right moment, then speaks with purpose? That’s who people listen to.
So if you want to be taken seriously, act like you belong. Even if, deep down, you’re screaming internally and questioning every decision you’ve ever made. Because here’s a secret: everyone else is, too. The only difference? Some people fake it better. And guess what? You can, too.
Final Thoughts: You’re Either Leading, or You’re Waiting
Leadership doesn’t start when you get promoted. It starts the moment you decide to step up.
If you’re waiting for someone to give you permission to lead, you’ve already lost the game.
Start now. Take ownership. Speak with confidence. Make decisions. And most importantly, stop waiting for someone to recognize your potential—because the ones who act like leaders before they get the title? They’re the ones who get it.