How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Book Overview

A man reading a book in a library

Do you ever think you can do things differently than those in charge? Do you have great ideas but feel like you’re not high enough on the career ladder to act on them? In How to Lead When You’re Not In Charge, business speaker and former evangelical pastor Clay Scroggins explains that you can be a leader even without holding a position of authority. You can still inspire others to strive toward a shared goal of a better future, regardless of your position. Read below for a How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge book overview.

Authority vs. Leadership: Why They Aren’t the Same Thing

Two groups of people in business suits representing authority vs. leadership

Are authority and leadership the same thing? What makes someone a leader without having a position of authority? Clay Scroggins believes that God gave humanity the responsibility to lead. Unfortunately, you may neglect this responsibility because you mistakenly believe that you must hold a position of authority to be a leader. Let’s look at authority vs. leadership to show why you don’t need to be in a high position to take charge.

How to Practice Critical Thinking to Improve Leadership Skills

A woman who knows how to practice critically thinking, with a lightbulb and question marks around her head.

Do you know how to practice critical thinking? Why do leaders need to have critical thinking skills? Every leader needs critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their back pocket. Critical thinking helps you identify ways to improve the situations and organizations you’re involved in. Keep reading to learn how to practice critical thinking to become a leader among your peers.

The 2 Types of External Leadership & How to Execute Them

A woman practicing external leadership to lead other people.

What’s external leadership? How can you lead your environment and superiors as an employee? If you want to lead, you must take charge of external areas of control: how you can lead people and things outside of yourself. Clay Scroggins implies you have a measure of control over people and things you directly interact with, even without authority. We’ve grouped Scroggins’s ideas into two main kinds of external leadership: leading your environment and leading your superiors.

Employee Leadership: A 3-Step Method to Take Initiative

An employee smiling and working on the computer while practicing employee leadership

How much authority do you need to take charge at work? What can you do as an employee who’s not in a leadership role? One kind of external leadership is leading your environment, which are the elements of an organization that you interact with regularly. These elements can be intangible, like the processes you use in your role, or tangible, like the way an office is arranged. Learn the three ways you can embrace your inner leader at work.

How Employees Should Propose Change to Their Bosses

Two employees proposing change to their boss through a slideshow

Are you afraid to talk to your superior about making changes in the workplace? How can you successfully propose a change to your boss? Changes are natural in the workplace, and sometimes it takes a brave employee for a manager to realize this. You can be that employee who propels a positive change in the workplace by following Clay Scroggins’s three methods for leading your superiors. Continue reading to bring about a new era in your workplace.

Strengths-Based Education: 4 Tips for University Students

a smiling female student on a campus depicts how strengths-based education helps students maximize the university experience

Are you making the most of your unique talents in college? How can you use your strengths to enhance your educational experience? CliftonStrengths for Students by Gallup provides several strategies for maximizing your college journey by focusing on your personal strengths. The book provides recommendations on how to choose courses, build relationships, and select extracurricular activities that align with your natural abilities. Keep reading to discover how to make a strengths-based education work for you.

What Are Employers Looking for in a Job Interview?

An employer interviewing a candidate for a job, displaying what employers are looking for.

Do you have a job interview coming up soon? What are employers looking for in potential employees? In his book Knock ’em Dead Job Interview, Martin Yate discusses what employers commonly look for in potential employees during an interview. Yate also explains how employers evaluate your expertise including your problem-solving abilities, transferrable skills, and teamwork. Keep reading to improve your chances of getting hired.

Why Embracing Failure Is Actually a Recipe for Success

A confident woman looking out the window and embracing failure as a lesson.

Are you afraid of failure? Have you ever considered that setbacks could be the key to your success? The book Go for No! discusses the importance of changing your perspective on failure in your professional and personal lives. It shouldn’t be something to avoid, but something that can help you achieve success. Check out why you should embrace failure to succeed at work.

How to Ace a Job Interview: Tips for Prep & Answering Tough Qs

A young woman in front of a mirror ready to ace a job interview

Are you nervous about an upcoming job interview? What can you do to prepare and set yourself apart? Job interviews are nerve-wracking, but they can be less so if you prepare thoroughly. Preparation includes learning to navigate different interview styles, asking questions that show your knowledge, and taking time to study the role in-depth. Here’s how to ace a job interview.