How to Lead Change When You Aren’t in a Leadership Position

Change is often seen as the responsibility of those in leadership, but what if you’re not in charge? How can you still make an impact and drive meaningful change within your organization? 

I recently wrote a comprehensive guide on this topic, which you can read here. The guide provides over 25 suggestions on how to lead change when you aren’t in a leadership position, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to lead change.

One of the things I mentioned in this guide is that you don’t need a title to be a catalyst for change.  Change agents don’t require official titles or positions in the hierarchy.

All you have to do is focus on what you can influence, challenge the status quo, and take action. Let’s explore how you can lead change from anywhere in the organization.

Shifting Attention: Focus on What You Can Influence

The first step to enacting change when you’re not a leader is to direct your attention to the areas where you have influence. 

It’s easy to get caught up in your position's limitations, but focusing on what you can’t control only leads to frustration. 

Instead, identify the spaces where your voice, ideas, and actions can make a difference, and pay attention to the everyday processes, routines, and interactions within your team or department. 

• Are there inefficiencies that everyone seems to accept as normal? 

• Are there minor, recurring issues that could be resolved with a bit of extra attention? 

By honing in on these areas, you will see opportunities for improvement that others might overlook.

Remember, change doesn’t always have to be sweeping or grandiose. Often, it’s the small, subtle shifts that lead to lasting transformation. 

By focusing your attention on what’s within your sphere of influence, you position yourself as proactive and solution-oriented, laying the groundwork for change.

Shifting Assumptions: Challenge the Status Quo

When you identify something to change, challenge the assumptions that underlie the current way of doing things. 

Organizations have norms, traditions, and “unwritten rules” that shape behavior, and these often go unquestioned because they’ve been around for so long that they’re accepted as the way things are.

However, if left unchallenged, these assumptions can hold an organization back from necessary change. 

Start by questioning the status quo:

• Why are things done the way they are? 

• Is there a better way? 

• What assumptions are people making about what’s possible, and are those assumptions valid?

If your team always approaches projects in a certain way because “that’s how we’ve always done it,” consider whether this approach is still the most effective. 

Also, challenge the assumption that change can only come from the top. Instead, think about how you can introduce new ideas or methods in a way that aligns with the team’s goals and values.

Challenging assumptions opens up space for new possibilities and inspires others to think bigger about what is possible.

Shifting Actions: Take Subtle Steps Toward Change

Action is needed to change, but you don’t need to make a big splash to have a big impact. 

Subtle, strategic actions can be just as powerful in driving change. 

Start by identifying small steps that align with the shifts in attention and assumptions you’ve identified.

For example, if you’ve noticed that team meetings are unproductive because they lack structure, suggest a simple change, such as setting a clear agenda before each meeting.

If you’ve questioned the assumption that feedback only comes from formal reviews, start offering constructive feedback in more informal settings, creating a culture of continuous improvement.

These actions may seem small, but they can create ripples that lead to more significant changes over time. 

Conclusion

You don’t need a leadership title to enact change. 

By focusing on what you can influence, challenging the assumptions, and taking subtle yet strategic actions, you can drive meaningful change within your organization. 

Change will only happen when people are proactive, question the status quo, and make incremental shifts that lead to significant results over time.

You don’t have to be in a leadership position to take the lead!

To your continued success!