Last week, we talked about leading less. One thing that does is open up opportunities for others to take initiative. Leadership is happening all around us, and often, it goes unnoticed. Whether you’re on the leadership team or in the trenches, the real question is: Are you seeing it? And are we giving it the space to grow and make things better?
Keep reading to learn more about why this matters and how we can start recognizing leadership, especially in places we might be overlooking.
Find The Leaders You Can't See
Leadership Is About What You Do, Not Your Title
We all know that leadership doesn’t start and stop with the folks in the C-suite. It’s everywhere—from the person in Operations who makes sure everyone feels heard, to the designer who steps up to guide a team through a tough project. These moments of action and initiative are what keep everything moving.
When you start to see leadership as something beyond authority, you start to see the real impact. People who feel empowered in their roles don’t just complete tasks; they push things forward.
Project Managers: The Leaders We Don’t Always See
A shout-out to our project managers. Too often, they’re seen as taskmasters or organizers. But think about it—they’re the ones managing teams, resolving issues, and making sure deadlines don’t go up in flames. They’re not just managing projects; they’re driving the entire company’s strategy from the front lines.
If we give them the room to lead in a bigger way, we’re not just improving project execution. We’re creating a bridge between the high-level vision and the hands-on work that makes it real. And trust me, when you achieve that kind of alignment, magic happens.
The Best Ideas Aren’t Always from the Top
The best ideas often come from the people who are deep in the work. Those on the front lines see what’s working and what’s not long before anyone else does. Those that feel the pain of uninformed decisions. Whether it’s the operations person who finds a quicker way to get things done or the account manager who notices a pattern that needs fixing—they are leaders in their own right, shaping the agency's future in real time.
When we give people the space to act on their ideas, we’re not just improving workflow—we’re unlocking innovation. The key to evolving is making sure those insights don’t get buried.
Ownership and Accountability Are What Define Leadership
Leadership isn’t about managing people; it’s about owning outcomes. You don’t need to have a team reporting to you to be a leader. People who take responsibility for the success or failure of their work are already leading, even if they don’t have the title to go with it.
When we start recognizing this and giving those people more room to call the shots, it changes the culture. Suddenly, it’s not just about getting the job done—it’s about owning the results and making sure things don’t just happen, but happen the right way.
Leadership Needs to Be Recognized and Nurtured
We need to stop thinking that leadership development is just for the people at the top. Everyone has the potential to lead from where they are. And regardless of our role, we all need to nurture that leadership in the people around us.
When you see someone stepping up, taking initiative, or solving problems, celebrate it! Support them. Give them the tools they need to grow. That’s how you build a culture where everyone feels empowered to lead, no matter their role. And that’s when a company really starts to thrive.
Leadership isn’t confined to titles. It’s everywhere—in every role and every corner of your company. From the project managers who keep the engine running to the people solving day-to-day issues that no one else even notices, there are leaders all around us. Let's start giving them the recognition they deserve and empowering them to do even more!