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Innovate From Within: How to Lead Boldly in Your Current Role (Part 2)

Writer's picture: Dr. Malcolm TysonDr. Malcolm Tyson

A silhouetted figure stands triumphantly on a hilltop, embodying the essence of leading boldly and innovating from within.
A silhouetted figure stands triumphantly on a hilltop, embodying the essence of leading boldly and innovating from within.

Leadership isn’t confined to a title, and innovation doesn’t require you to start your own business. Sometimes, the most meaningful impact you can make happens right where you are. If you’re someone who dreams of leading boldly but feels tethered to your current role, know this: your circumstances don’t define your potential. You can lead and innovate right now, exactly where you are.

This is your guide to unlocking the innovator within and making your mark in your current position. If you haven't checked Part 1 of this #LeadBoldly series, read it here.





1. Reframe Your Perspective

Leadership isn’t about managing tasks or wielding authority—it’s about influence and impact. By shifting your focus to the opportunities around you, you can start leading without waiting for permission.

  • How to Start:Reflect on your current role and ask: What problems can I solve? Where can I add value?

  • Quick Win: Identify one small improvement you can make in a process, workflow, or team dynamic. Start there.


💡 Remember: Leadership starts with action, not a title.


 

2. Adopt a Leadership Mindset



Your mindset shapes your behavior, and your behavior defines your influence. To lead boldly, embrace the traits of a leader: resilience, empathy, and vision.

  • Example: Begin by listening more deeply to your colleagues and understanding their needs. Empathy builds trust and strengthens connections.

  • Action Step: Keep a journal to track daily leadership moments. Did you inspire someone? Solve a problem? Motivate a teammate?


 

3. Embrace Intrapreneurship

Think of yourself as the CEO of your role. Intrapreneurs innovate within their organizations, finding creative ways to drive change and solve challenges.

  • How to Spot Opportunities: Look for inefficiencies, untapped potential, or areas where your unique skills can shine.

  • Action Step: Conduct a "Sailboat Exercise" to evaluate what’s propelling your team forward and what’s holding it back. Use these insights to propose solutions.



💡 Small, measurable wins build credibility and pave the way for bigger projects.


 

4. Build Influence Through Relationships

True leaders build bridges, not walls. By fostering relationships across teams and departments, you amplify your reach and impact.

  • Start Here: Schedule one-on-one coffee chats or virtual meetings with colleagues outside your immediate team. Learn about their challenges and explore ways to collaborate.

  • Quick Win: Use your next team meeting to highlight someone’s contribution or share a creative idea to solve a shared challenge.


💡 Influence isn’t about control—it’s about connection.


 

5. Start a Passion Project at Work

Passion projects are a powerful way to showcase your creativity, leadership, and commitment to growth.

  • Examples:

    • Create a mentorship program for junior colleagues.

    • Lead a book club on leadership or innovation.

    • Propose a project to improve team collaboration or streamline a recurring task.

  • Action Step: Identify one project that aligns with both your personal interests and your organization’s goals. Pitch it to your manager with a clear plan and measurable outcomes.


💡 Success breeds visibility. Passion projects often open doors to future leadership opportunities.


 

6. Lean Into Your Strengths as an Innovator

Innovation is all about discovering new ways to tackle age-old challenges across



various sectors. It’s a creative journey that redefines norms and reimagines solutions, acting as a powerful catalyst for growth in both personal and organizational contexts.

As a leader, harness your unique strengths to cultivate a culture of creativity and experimentation. Recognize your skills and inspire your team to embrace change with vision and resilience. Your ability to motivate others is key to fostering new ideas and strategies. Remember, innovation is a continuous journey. Embrace trial and error, and encourage your team to learn from failures as stepping stones to success. By viewing challenges as opportunities, you’ll cultivate a dynamic organization ready to adapt and thrive.

  • How to Start:

    • Use tools like "Lightning Demos" to gather inspiration from other industries and apply them to your organization’s challenges.

    • Bring a fresh perspective to your team by suggesting a brainstorming session to tackle a persistent issue.

  • Quick Win: Share an innovative idea at your next meeting, framing it as a collaborative opportunity.


💡 Innovators thrive when they focus on progress, not perfection.


 

7. Build a Future-Forward Plan

Your current role is a stepping stone, not a destination. Use it as a laboratory to build your leadership skills and position yourself for future opportunities.

  • Create a Personal Development Plan:

    • Identify skills you want to strengthen (e.g., public speaking, strategic thinking).

    • Seek out opportunities for training, mentorship, or stretch assignments.

  • Action Step: Set a 6-month goal to lead a project or solve a significant problem in your role.


💡 A leader’s journey is never static—always aim for growth.


 


Key Takeaways

Leadership and innovation aren’t limited to entrepreneurs or executives. They belong to anyone bold enough to take action, connect with others, and pursue meaningful change.


Here’s how you can start leading boldly today:

  1. Reframe your role as a platform for leadership.

  2. Adopt a mindset of influence and innovation.

  3. Build relationships that amplify your impact.

  4. Start small but think big—your passion and ideas matter.


Next Steps

Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Download our free guide: “10 Leadership Traits That Make You Marketable in Any Space.” It’s packed with actionable insights to help you lead boldly and make your mark.



💡 Have a question or success story about leading from within? Share it with us on social media and tag @StratAscension. Let’s inspire others to innovate boldly!



 

STRATASCENSION was founded on the notion that business is relational and growth is achieved through the deepening of all the micro connections between people, processes, tools, & performance. We want to help leaders enhance these connections and leverage them for transformation.



 

Employee Experience significantly influences Innovativeness

We are a Certified Partner with Predictive Index, the foremost leader in the Talent Optimization category. Our Innovativeness Leadership Framework combined with their platform and data offers clients an easy way to assess their culture and initiate innovativeness initiatives. Click here to schedule a chat to learn more.





 

AUTOMATE TO BE GREAT!!

As a Keap Certified Partner, we leverage the power of automation to improve the innovativeness of consultants, speakers, coaches, trainers, and growth-minded entrepreneurs. Click here to learn more about adding this to your tech stack and get back time lost on those repetitive tasks.



 

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