We often associate leadership with titles. Manager. Team Lead. Director. Architect. But leadership isn’t something that automatically comes with a job title. It’s something you demonstrate in the everyday moments, especially when no one’s watching and no one’s telling you what to do.

Some of the most impactful leaders I’ve worked with didn’t have leadership in their job description. They were the people who stayed back to help a teammate after hours. The ones who spoke up in a meeting when something didn’t feel right. The ones who quietly advocated for others or took on thankless tasks just to move the team forward.

As someone who leads a team of Power Platform specialists and works across different industries and client projects, I’ve learned that leadership shows up well before you’re officially “in charge.” It shows up in the way we act, support, and make decisions—day in and day out.

1. Taking ownership, even when it’s not your job

Leadership starts with accountability. It’s easy to wait for someone else to fix an issue or assume it’s not your responsibility. But true leaders step in and say, “I’ll take this on,” even when it’s messy or unclear.

In Power Platform projects, things move fast. There are often grey areas—spaces between business and IT, between development and adoption. The people who step into those gaps and help bring clarity, alignment, or momentum, without waiting for permission, are the ones others naturally start to follow.

2. Influencing without authority

You don’t need to be in charge to make a difference. If you’ve ever helped a teammate see a new perspective, guided a client toward a better solution, or shared your experience to help someone grow, you’ve already practiced leadership through influence.

Some of the most important leadership moments happen in 1:1 conversations. They happen when you take the time to explain the “why,” not just the “what.” And they happen when you earn trust by listening first, then leading by example.

3. Lifting others up

Great leaders don’t need to take up all the space in the room—they make space for others. In meetings, that might mean asking the quieter team member for their view or echoing someone’s idea that was overlooked. It means giving credit, sharing the spotlight, and helping others be seen.

This kind of leadership is especially powerful when supporting junior team members, women in tech, or anyone who might hesitate to speak up. And when you model it consistently, you set a tone that shapes the whole culture.

4. Doing the right thing, even when it’s hard

It’s easy to lead when everyone agrees. But leadership really shows up when you choose integrity, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

There have been times I’ve had to push back on shortcuts that would’ve compromised reliability or long-term success. Or speak up when something didn’t align with our values, even if staying quiet would have been easier. Those aren’t always the moments people notice, but they’re the ones that build lasting trust.

5. Showing up for others, consistently

One of the most overlooked forms of leadership is just being there for people. The person who checks in when someone’s had a tough day. The one who answers a question with patience and care. The one who notices and appreciates effort, not just outcomes.

You don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes, leadership is simply walking alongside someone as they find their own. That mindset has shaped the way I lead my team—and how I parent my two kids. It’s about presence, not perfection.

Final thoughts: Leadership that makes a difference

In a world that’s moving fast and constantly changing, we don’t just need more “people in charge” with fancy job titles. We need people who lead with intention, regardless of their role.

People who lift others up, who care and speak up. Who take responsibility and model curiosity over certainty. Who make decisions with empathy and courage and model what good looks like. And who lead themselves well, because that’s always the first step to leading others.

So if you’re waiting for permission to call yourself a leader, you don’t need it. Start where you are. Because the moments that no one sees often shape who people become.