The Angel Edit: How To Lead Without A Title

The Angel Edit: How To Lead Without A Title

Read Time: 3 minutes

Topics Covered: Leading without a title, Building your brand, Thinking strategically, Finding a sponsor

For many of us, we may think leadership begins when someone hands us a title, a promotion, or a seat at the senior stakeholder table. But real leadership actually starts long before that. Influencing without direct power is one of the most underrated skills out there that is not talked about often. 

If that’s an area you want to develop, here’s how you can start: 

Build your personal brand inside and outside your company.

We no longer live in a world where career visibility is optional. Fact is, the later you start, the harder it gets. Think of it as being an advocate for yourself and activating your own PR agency to help others see your value in supporting them.

Push yourself to think strategically.

Don't get stuck executing. Speak in outcomes, and get involved in shaping the work. This could look like raising your hand and proactively building trusted advisor relationships to be in the right rooms. Think about how you can sharpen the way you articulate and showcase your value. The last thing you want to do is continue what you’ve always been doing, especially in a world of AI. 

Find a sponsor (not just a mentor).

I say this all the time: Women are over-mentored and under-sponsored. Start building your career capital, and get in front of leaders who will use their social capital to advocate for you. These are the people who open doors you can’t access on your own yet.

All in all, you want to stop waiting for permission to lead and start looking at proactive ways in which you can be in the driver's seat of your career to design your next chapter with intention.

Need some help? Click here to access my Career Power Move Playbook, the ultimate 5-step roadmap to get clear, get noticed & get ahead in a high-impact career. 

Rooting for you, 

Angel Kilian

Founder  l Career inFocus