Is it your opinion or how you offer said opinion?

It’s okay to share your ideas and take initiative. If you hold back because you’re worried, you might come across as too agreeable. Just following instructions and staying in the background can make others see you as only a helper. Leadership isn’t just for managers. Aim to be a partner who brings value to your manager and your team.

Instead of asking your busy manager a general question like, “Do you need help?”, try to spot a specific problem you can solve. For example, if your manager has several meetings, you might say, “I noticed you have three meetings about the X project tomorrow. Would it help if I put together a summary of the latest data for you?” This shows you understand their workload and want to help the business succeed.

Being influential also means sharing a different opinion in a respectful way. If you see a problem with a plan, don’t stay silent just to be polite. Try turning your feedback into a question that focuses on the team’s goal, such as, “I’m curious how this approach will impact our deadline for project Y?” This shifts the discussion from personal criticism to working together on the project.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to spot problems and suggest clear solutions.