\u201cHow To Lead When You\u2019re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence when You Lack Authority, \u201cby Clay Scroggins and forwarded by Andy Stanley. Clay Scroggins was an author, speaker, and the lead pastor at North Point Community Church. His background is undergraduate engineering degree from Georgia Tech and Masters and Doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n
This book that gets my attention since that is what I am trying to achieve in my current position. I am not in leadership position, but I like to work toward improvement. \u00a0Not only that but, it is a great opportunity to see leadership from the perspective of the followers and to learn,<\/p>\n
There are several learning points that we could get from this book that can help us navigate regardless of, if we are in leadership positions, or followership positions. It is a very common mentality that in order to be a great leader, he or she has to in that position of authority. \u201cWe come to see positional authority as a prerequisite for effective leadership.\u201d [1]<\/a> Two take aways that I gathered from Scroggins are the importance of influence and identity for leadership, whether or in positional authority or not.<\/p>\n The first is the importance of influence. In comparing influence and authority, he wrote, \u201cInfluence always outpaces authority. And leaders who consistently leverage their authority to lead are far less effective in the long term than leaders who leverage their influence. Practice leading through influence when you are not in charge. It\u2019s the key to leading well.\u201d [2]<\/a> He did not only address the importance, but recommending it, especially if you would be leading from within.<\/p>\n Secondly, it is the importance of identity. \u201cNear the core of what makes a person a leader is their sense of identity. The way you see yourself is determinative for your life and for the decisions you make as a leader. Your sense of identity directs you in every direction.\u201d [3]<\/a> To be effective in leading from within requires us to understand who we are in the presence of God, for it gives us the right perspective and it also a fountain of positive influence.<\/p>\n The Harvad Business Review posted two articles with regard to \u2018leading when not being in charge.\u2019 First article, \u201cHow to Lead When You\u2019re Not in Charge, by Gary Hamel and Polly LaBarre (May 24, 2013). \u201c To gain a true leadership advantage, organizations must be filled with individuals who understand how to maximize their own ratio of \u2018accomplishment over authority.\u201d[4]<\/a> Hamel and LaBarre emphasize the value and visibility of influence display by individuals (not positional authority influence in which they called it, the ratio of accomplishment over authority.<\/p>\n The second article was, \u201cYou Don\u2019t Need to Be \u2018the Boss to Be a Leader,\u201d by Matt Mayberry. \u201cTo become an influential person at work, we\u2019re often told we must rise through the ranks or collect a series of fancy credentials. But this is a misconception.\u201d [5]<\/a> Mayberry agreed with Scroggins on the validation that influence bestows upon leadership regardless of positional authority. Even though ones not in positional authority, or as he said, \u201cyou may not be a manager yet, but there are three actions you can take to hone your leadership skills right now and become a highly respected and influential team member. (a.) devote time to daily growth, (b.) discover and embrace your personal strengths, and (c.) improve your ability to connect with people.\u201d [6]<\/a><\/p>\n A question was asked in Forbes Newsletter, \u201cIs it possible to b a leader without holding a leadership position?, or as rephrased, \u201chow can you show leadership in any role you take? \u2018Anyone can exhibit leadership qualities regardless of their job or position. Here are some ways to become a leader in your workplace, even if you are not in management position: (a.) Be proactive, (b.) Be a team player, (c.) Communicate effectively, (d.) Lead by example, (e.) Develop your skills, and (f.) Foster a positive work environment.\u201d [7]<\/a><\/p>\n To close it off, what I have learned is that influence and identity are essentials quality of leadership regardless of positional authority. And being a leader is an acquired skill; however, some may be more efficient with it.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Scroggins. Clay. How to Lead When You\u2019re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority (pp.). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Ibid (pp. 33).<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Ibid (pp. 33).<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Hamel, Gary and LaBarre. \u201cHow To Lead When You\u2019re Not in Charge.\u201d (Havard Business Review, May 24, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2024.) https:\/\/hbr.org\/2013\/05\/how-to-lead-when-youre-not-in<\/a>.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Mayberry, Matt. \u201cYou Don\u2019t Need to Be \u2018the Boss\u2019 to Be a Leader.\u201d (Harvard Business Review. February 13, 2023. Accessed November 3, 2024.) https:\/\/hbr.org\/2023\/02\/you-dont-need-to-be-the-boss-to-be-a-leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n