Leverage what others ignore.

What others see as busy work, you know it’s a way to influence.

Leadership is about being the person who follows through. You can lead right now by providing the structure your team needs to win. What others may see as busy work, you know it’s a way to influence the group and keep everyone moving toward the same goal.

Taking initiative demonstrates that you can manage more than just yourself. As you move up, your success depends on your ability to keep projects organized and help others stay on track.

You can also start leading by taking a step into gaps where no one has claimed responsibility. If you see a part of a project that’s being ignored, volunteer to handle it. It shows that you care about the team’s success more than just your own tasks. Leaders make sure the job gets done, even if they’re not the ones getting all the credit at the start.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to provide structure where there is none and prioritize team success over individual task lists.