“I’m not sure what to do next.”

The last time we spoke, you said you wanted to be a leader. Has that not happened?

“Well, there’s no more budget for classes or training this year, no openings for me to step into, and, honestly, I think my boss prefers someone else over me.”

Ok, this is typical in most companies. Things often don’t change quickly, and you might have to compete with others.

But let me ask you this: “What have you done to embody what you think it means to be a leader? Last month when we spoke, you defined a leader as someone who serves others, steps in to guide people, then gets out of the way, and helps create a vision for the organization. How have you changed your behavior, right now, to align with what you think it means to be a leader? Have you started to make yourself more available to others who are looking for help?”

Silence.

—

You don’t need to wait for permission from others to start being a leader. Make the changes yourself first, and you may find that doors of opportunity will open in front of you. If you feel that you are embodying what it means to be a leader and the doors are not opening for you, you may need to explore other avenues for growth and leadership opportunities.