Leadership Part 1: Lead without a title

When something is stuck and nobody owns it, whoever sorts it out is leading, title or not. Your next group project is a good place to start.

Meera and the hackathon website

In Meera's college coding club, the website for the club's coding contest was three weeks late. Everyone kept saying someone should sort it out. Meera was a second-year member with no title, but she:

1. Found out what was stuck. Two members each thought the other was building the sign-up page.
2. Posted a plan in the club group: "I'll take the sign-up page. Arjun, could you take the schedule page? Let's review together on Sunday."
3. Did her part first and shared it.
4. Thanked Arjun by name when the site went live.

The site was up within a week. When the club picked new coordinators that semester, Meera was the obvious choice.

What leaders do, with or without a title

• Notice what's stuck, and say it out loud, kindly.
• Bring a plan, not just a complaint.
• Do the first piece of work themselves.
• Keep small promises. People follow someone they can rely on.
• Give credit away, and own their mistakes.

What it isn't

• Doing everyone's work. That burns you out and teaches the team nothing. Part 4 covers handing work over.
• Being the loudest person in the room.
• Ordering around people who didn't ask you to lead. Offer a plan, then let people join in.

Where to practise

Group projects, the class WhatsApp group, a college fest, volunteering, or a new team at work. Small, low-stakes situations are the best place to start, because mistakes there cost very little.

Try it

Think of one thing in your class, club or team that's stuck. Write a three-line message: what's stuck, a small plan, and the part you'll do yourself. If it would really help, send it.

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Next: Leadership Part 2: Meetings that end on time