Leading Without Being the Leader

Much of the leadership training within Toastmasters has to do with leading a team. These skills are particularly applicable within the corporate environment. But what if you aren’t particularly oriented toward being a team leader? What if you are not in a position to be one? Is it possible to be a leader without being the leader?

Yes, and let me suggest at least three ways this is true.

The first is being a thought leader.

I think of a thought leader as one who takes the body of knowledge in a particular area to the next level. They may be building upon existing knowledge or thinking outside the proverbial box. This kind of leadership could even involve taking a complicated topic and repackaging it in a form that is simple to understand. Basically, thought leaders are those who think for themselves and advance thought in a positive direction.

I have been to many training sessions in my day. Occasionally, I hear something new, but all too often the trainer is repeating what has been said before. This is particularly true in the home-based business arena. There is nothing wrong with this. Their audience needs to hear the information. And good for the trainer for teaching them. But this does not mean that this person is a thought leader.

A thought leader doesn’t just repeat what their mentor has taught them—they carry it one step further.

As a speaking-skills trainer, I am not particularly innovative when it comes to speechwriting. But I tend to push the envelope in the delivery area. Sometimes a lot. Does that make me a thought leader? Maybe, maybe not. I hope so.

A second type of leader is an inspirational leader.

This is a person who, by their performance, behavior, or level of attainment, inspires others to follow in their footsteps.

We see this a lot in the sports arena. In the most recent season of women’s college basketball in the United States, Caitlin Clark, a star player for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, had an outstanding year. She set scoring records and made her team one of the best in the nation. And, in the process, inspired many young girls to take up that sport and work hard to achieve a high level of success.

She has seen that she is an inspirational leader and has embraced that role. You can also be inspiring people without even knowing it. Who are you inspiring?

A third type of leader is the mindset leader.

This leader influences the mindset, mental framework, and attitudes of others, whether positively or negatively. They correct, orient, and guide the culture of the team. Have you ever heard someone say, “That’s not how we do it here”? That is mindset leadership.

Years ago, a baseball player joined a professional team that I followed. The team had not been successful in a while, but this player came over from a championship team. During his new team’s pre-season training camp, someone played a trick on him that he did not appreciate. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take a joke. He was serious about being successful and it was obvious the other player was just there to have fun. He came down on the team hard and turned the mindset around. They became success oriented. And they went on to win the World Series championship. This player changed how the team thought and was a true mindset leader.

Whether you realize it or not, you, too, may be a mindset leader. You don’t even have to be in a position of leadership to be one. Are you positive, and supportive of the team’s objectives? Or are you negative, and always complaining? Either way, you could be a mindset leader. Obviously, one type of leadership is helpful to the team and the other is not.

The thought leader needs to have some expertise in an area. Inspirational and mindset leaders do not. They can influence an individual or an organization just by their attitude and effort.

In fact, they may not even be aware of the influence that they are having.

That is why we need to be careful about what we say and do. Our attitude, our comments, and even our posture and demeanor can have a tremendous effect on the success or failure of a team.

What effect are you having? After all, you are a leader.

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