Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority - How to Lead When You're Not in Charge

I was unaware that this is a heavily Christian book, with a number of Bible passages and the text being quite founded in Christian theology. I found this problematic, particularly as a I reached a segment of the book wherein the author points out to the reader that God has placed your boss/es in the positions they are in, and therefore, they are to be trusted to be leaders. (See p. 125, for example)

That said, it's only my fault that I was unaware of what kind of book it is... but in case you're not looking for a book about how God has placed your idiot boss in the position s/he is in, here's your warning.

To be fair, the book does have numerous references, and chapter notes in the back, with citations. So, it is not straight-up BS pulled out of the air

This book is about Christian values thinly wrapped in a leadership coating. Almost every point the author attempts to make about leadership connects it to "god". There isn't any science backing up his claims, and the majority is based on personal experience and his interpretation of what "god" would want you to do as a leader. I think it's meant to be inspiring, but it comes off as preachy, so I guess if you're into that, go for it.

No matter where you are in your career, every one of us has been in the position of trying to figure out how to lead when you're not in charge. Whether it was as the entry-level worker or the mid-level manager, there were times when you wanted to lead more and better, but felt that you were unable. For many of us, that feeling of being unable is due to a myth that we have bought into — that you must be in charge in order to lead.

Clay Scroggins, in his new book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority, sets out to destroy this myth and expose it for what it is. In the introduction, as he looks back over his early years in work and ministry, Scroggins says,

"As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. I regret the times I didn't speak up. I regret the times I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for someone to tell me what to do. I regret feeling like a victim to the structure or hierarchy of the organization. Life teaches us that the authority to lead and the opportunity to lead are a package deal. We think they go hand in hand like cranberry sauce and turkey. When we're given the authority to lead — a title, a uniform, a corner office — then, and only then, will we have the opportunity to lead. But that's just not true" (21).

The Author

Clay Scroggins currently serves as the lead pastor of North Point Community Church, the largest campus of North Point Ministries. Even in this current role, and certainly in his prior roles at North Point, Scroggins works under Andy Stanley and understands firsthand how to manage the tension of leading when you're not in charge. Drawing from his own personal experiences, as well as through researching and studying the topic for years, Scroggins writes on this subject as one with much to offer.

The Book

The book is separated into 3 parts: (1) Understanding our Challenge, (2) The Four Behaviors, and (3) Challenging Authority. The first part lays the framework for the book, showing that leadership can be exercised whether or not you have the position and power of authority. The second part, then, is the "meat" of the book, laying out the four behaviors of the person who leads well even when he or she is not in charge.

Personally, the most helpful chapter of the book in my opinion came in this second part. The chapter is called "Lead Yourself," and the main point of the chapter is that we can never expect to lead others well if we are not leading ourselves well. Scroggins says, "With the small choices you make when no one else is looking, when it's just you and God, you are proving or disproving to him (and to yourself) your future ability to lead others" (96).

Scroggins lays out what this looks like to practically lead yourself with three simple things:

(1) Model Followership — Do you know how to follow well? If you do not know how to follow well, you will not lead well

(2) Monitor Your Heart and Behavior — You have to constantly check the emotions of your heart, examining for jealousy, anger, frustration, etc. And from our heart, our behaviors will flow, for good or bad.

(3) Make A Plan — To lead well, you must make a plan. And to make a plan, you must know where you currently are, have a vision for where you want to go, and develop the discipline and accountability to do what it takes to stay on track.
"Great leaders know how to lead when they're in charge because they've been leading long before they were ever given that authority. That's the big idea i hope you take away from this book" (212).

Conclusion

To be completely honest, I am just not that big into most leadership books. However, when I had the opportunity to review this book, I thought that it may be applicable to me in my current role as an associate pastor, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to take a look. I'm glad I did. While I didn't agree with everything in the book (for instance, I think the author missed a huge opportunity to discuss our identity in Christ when discussing the value of identity in leadership), there were certainly some good thoughts and nuggets of wisdom throughout. Whether or not you are in an official position of leadership, each of us has the capacity and mandate to lead well where we are. This book will help give you some guidelines and thoughts to think through to ensure that you are maximizing the leadership that God has entrusted to you in your current role.

In accordance with FTC regulations, I would like to thank Zondervan Publishers for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

“Influence always outpaces authority,” writes Clay Scroggins. “And leaders who consistently leverage their authority are far less effective in the long term than leaders who leverage their influence.” Scroggins identifies four behaviors that will help readers leverage their influence: lead yourself, choose positivity, think critically and reject passivity. He also gives sage advice for challenging authority as a second-chair leader, when that becomes necessary. His bottom line advice? “Practice leading through influence when you’re not in charge. It’s the key to leading well when you are in charge.” This is an insightful book for second-chair church leaders and young ministers.

Had I known every other paragraph had a biblical quote, I would not have purchased it. Thought it was a book about leadership in companies or internet authority. So annoying to have a bible shoved in my face instead. Let me see if a refund is possible...

In this book, Clay Scroggins addresses a situation that is familiar to many of us: trying to be a leader without having the authority of a leader.

How can you lead change in your church when you don’t have the authority to do anything differently? How can you be a difference-maker when your job description limits your ability to make a difference? Scroggins has had those questions, but he says, “I had not yet realized that we don’t need authority to have influence” (p. 27). Now he recognizes that "Influence has always been, and will always be, the currency of leadership” (p. 27).

Well, what do we need in order to build influence with those around us and above us? That is what the book really tries to explain.

Scroggins begins by digging into the issue of identity because “near the core of what makes a person a leader is their sense of identity” (p. 38). If you aren’t confident about who you are, how you’re gifted, and what God has called you to do, then you’ll be on shaky ground as a leader.

In Part 2, Scroggins gets into the practical stuff, what he calls “The Four Behaviors.” These behaviors aren’t anything new to most readers of this kind of book, but it’s always good to be reminded.

Part 3 of the book moves toward the act of challenging those above you. Scroggins counsels, “The words you use when you share your idea are bricks that will either build a bridge of relationship for your idea or a wall of distrust” (p. 184).

The main idea of the book is that future leaders have to start leading in the present. According to Scroggins, “When we stop thinking about how we want to lead in the future and start looking for opportunities to lead right now, we truly learn how to make ourselves, and those around us, better” (pp. 212-213).

Putting in the work to make ourselves and those around us better is what leaders do, even when they’re not in charge. This book will inspire you to work smarter, try harder, and become better as a young leader.

I have a master's degree in leadership, and teach it at the college level. There is no shortage of leadership books on the market that do a good job of describing how to influence others from a position in the upper echelons of an organizational chart. The brilliance of Clay Scroggins's book is that it is focused on how you can influence others NOW, both in preparation for a position of higher authority and so the reader can obtain that position. Delightfully written and almost supernaturally insightful, I will return to this book often and will be looking for ways it incorporate it into the courses I develop. This book has my highest possible recommendation.

This book is about Christian values thinly wrapped in a leadership coating. Almost every point the author attempts to make about leadership connects it to "god". There isn't any science backing up his claims, and the majority is based on personal experience and his interpretation of what "god" would want you to do as a leader. I think it's meant to be inspiring, but it comes off as preachy, so I guess if you're into that, go for it.

No matter where you are in your career, every one of us has been in the position of trying to figure out how to lead when you're not in charge. Whether it was as the entry-level worker or the mid-level manager, there were times when you wanted to lead more and better, but felt that you were unable. For many of us, that feeling of being unable is due to a myth that we have bought into — that you must be in charge in order to lead.

Clay Scroggins, in his new book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority, sets out to destroy this myth and expose it for what it is. In the introduction, as he looks back over his early years in work and ministry, Scroggins says,

"As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. I regret the times I didn't speak up. I regret the times I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for someone to tell me what to do. I regret feeling like a victim to the structure or hierarchy of the organization. Life teaches us that the authority to lead and the opportunity to lead are a package deal. We think they go hand in hand like cranberry sauce and turkey. When we're given the authority to lead — a title, a uniform, a corner office — then, and only then, will we have the opportunity to lead. But that's just not true" (21).

The Author

Clay Scroggins currently serves as the lead pastor of North Point Community Church, the largest campus of North Point Ministries. Even in this current role, and certainly in his prior roles at North Point, Scroggins works under Andy Stanley and understands firsthand how to manage the tension of leading when you're not in charge. Drawing from his own personal experiences, as well as through researching and studying the topic for years, Scroggins writes on this subject as one with much to offer.

The Book

The book is separated into 3 parts: (1) Understanding our Challenge, (2) The Four Behaviors, and (3) Challenging Authority. The first part lays the framework for the book, showing that leadership can be exercised whether or not you have the position and power of authority. The second part, then, is the "meat" of the book, laying out the four behaviors of the person who leads well even when he or she is not in charge.

Personally, the most helpful chapter of the book in my opinion came in this second part. The chapter is called "Lead Yourself," and the main point of the chapter is that we can never expect to lead others well if we are not leading ourselves well. Scroggins says, "With the small choices you make when no one else is looking, when it's just you and God, you are proving or disproving to him (and to yourself) your future ability to lead others" (96).

Scroggins lays out what this looks like to practically lead yourself with three simple things:

(1) Model Followership — Do you know how to follow well? If you do not know how to follow well, you will not lead well

(2) Monitor Your Heart and Behavior — You have to constantly check the emotions of your heart, examining for jealousy, anger, frustration, etc. And from our heart, our behaviors will flow, for good or bad.

(3) Make A Plan — To lead well, you must make a plan. And to make a plan, you must know where you currently are, have a vision for where you want to go, and develop the discipline and accountability to do what it takes to stay on track.
"Great leaders know how to lead when they're in charge because they've been leading long before they were ever given that authority. That's the big idea i hope you take away from this book" (212).

Conclusion

To be completely honest, I am just not that big into most leadership books. However, when I had the opportunity to review this book, I thought that it may be applicable to me in my current role as an associate pastor, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to take a look. I'm glad I did. While I didn't agree with everything in the book (for instance, I think the author missed a huge opportunity to discuss our identity in Christ when discussing the value of identity in leadership), there were certainly some good thoughts and nuggets of wisdom throughout. Whether or not you are in an official position of leadership, each of us has the capacity and mandate to lead well where we are. This book will help give you some guidelines and thoughts to think through to ensure that you are maximizing the leadership that God has entrusted to you in your current role.

In accordance with FTC regulations, I would like to thank Zondervan Publishers for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

“Influence always outpaces authority,” writes Clay Scroggins. “And leaders who consistently leverage their authority are far less effective in the long term than leaders who leverage their influence.” Scroggins identifies four behaviors that will help readers leverage their influence: lead yourself, choose positivity, think critically and reject passivity. He also gives sage advice for challenging authority as a second-chair leader, when that becomes necessary. His bottom line advice? “Practice leading through influence when you’re not in charge. It’s the key to leading well when you are in charge.” This is an insightful book for second-chair church leaders and young ministers.

Had I known every other paragraph had a biblical quote, I would not have purchased it. Thought it was a book about leadership in companies or internet authority. So annoying to have a bible shoved in my face instead. Let me see if a refund is possible...

In this book, Clay Scroggins addresses a situation that is familiar to many of us: trying to be a leader without having the authority of a leader.

How can you lead change in your church when you don’t have the authority to do anything differently? How can you be a difference-maker when your job description limits your ability to make a difference? Scroggins has had those questions, but he says, “I had not yet realized that we don’t need authority to have influence” (p. 27). Now he recognizes that "Influence has always been, and will always be, the currency of leadership” (p. 27).

Well, what do we need in order to build influence with those around us and above us? That is what the book really tries to explain.

Scroggins begins by digging into the issue of identity because “near the core of what makes a person a leader is their sense of identity” (p. 38). If you aren’t confident about who you are, how you’re gifted, and what God has called you to do, then you’ll be on shaky ground as a leader.

In Part 2, Scroggins gets into the practical stuff, what he calls “The Four Behaviors.” These behaviors aren’t anything new to most readers of this kind of book, but it’s always good to be reminded.

Part 3 of the book moves toward the act of challenging those above you. Scroggins counsels, “The words you use when you share your idea are bricks that will either build a bridge of relationship for your idea or a wall of distrust” (p. 184).

The main idea of the book is that future leaders have to start leading in the present. According to Scroggins, “When we stop thinking about how we want to lead in the future and start looking for opportunities to lead right now, we truly learn how to make ourselves, and those around us, better” (pp. 212-213).

Putting in the work to make ourselves and those around us better is what leaders do, even when they’re not in charge. This book will inspire you to work smarter, try harder, and become better as a young leader.

I have a master's degree in leadership, and teach it at the college level. There is no shortage of leadership books on the market that do a good job of describing how to influence others from a position in the upper echelons of an organizational chart. The brilliance of Clay Scroggins's book is that it is focused on how you can influence others NOW, both in preparation for a position of higher authority and so the reader can obtain that position. Delightfully written and almost supernaturally insightful, I will return to this book often and will be looking for ways it incorporate it into the courses I develop. This book has my highest possible recommendation.

Clay Scroggins writes in an a way that empowers yet leaves readers without any excuses—we all have influence, so what are we doing with it?
How to Lead When You're Not in Charge challenges those within organizations to not wait around to be put in the drivers seat, but to be stewards of their influence right where they are. This is what leadership is. Whether you work in a church organization, or just the business world, this book empowers anyone in any position to lead in the areas they have been given, even if that is not the corner office.
Scroggins writes with humor, humility, and honesty. His vast experience both as the lead pastor of Northpoint Community Church as well as various positions in the professional world give him a great amount of expertise that he shares in a compelling way.
As a young professional, I can't wait to recommend this title to my colleagues and friends!

Clay Scroggins, lead pastor of North Point Community Church, describes what is needed to be a great leader and that this can happen even when you are not in charge. The premise of this book is that authority is not a prerequisite for leadership. The author starts with dispelling the myth that leadership requires a title and authority. He then offers lots of practical advice on how to lead when you are not in charge. Some key takeaways are to start with leading yourself well, choose positivity, think critically without being critical and last but not least avoiding passivity by applying CPR (choosing, planning, and responding). The final part of the book provides ideas on how to effectively challenge up. This book will show you how to lead right where you are – right now.

I have the pleasure of attending Clay's church and reading this book is like sitting in a chair in worship listening to him preach. He writes from the heart and tells it like it is, with the faith and honesty of a true leader, even if he's not in charge. But then again, are we ever really in charge? This book can be applied no matter what your stage or position in life. It's full of wisdom. And you'll giggle a time or two along the way!

This book, and the coinciding videos/interviews quite possibly changed the trajectory of my life. In the first 5 minutes of Clay's first video, he challenges his audience to lead themselves well if they're not being lead well. It changed everything for me to realize for myself that, at the end of the day, I am responsible for my growth pattern. Clay so easily relates to and challenges his readers to look at leadership differently. I would so highly recommend this book to every one. There is something in it for all who are looking to improve their leadership potential.

This book provides some great information and sounds advice on how to lead when not in charge. I wish however, that he would not involve god so often. The reasoning behind the god stories don't make much sense. If god put you there on purpose and god has a plan for everything, then why should you really try to do anything? Just let god deliver his plan.

If you can get passed the god and bible chat, then you can extract some really useful information from this book. If not, choose another book.

Clay Scroggins has hit the ball out of the park. This book is insightful and full of excellent examples of life experiences which will help the reader "lead." The timing of this book could not be any better with massive changes in the way people and companies are growing and changing. Just like it has been stated in the military, the sergeants get the jobs done.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in middle management or even thinking of getting into management.

As a staff pastor, I greatly enjoyed this book as a leadership tool. I’m greatly looking forward to putting what I’ve learned in this book into practice. One of the best pieces of advice is that leadership starts with leading you. Only when you do that can you properly lead others. Read this book for more great advice, and learn how to lead in whatever role you’re in.

Absolutely incredible book, changed the way I lead, think, and relate to those I lead. One of my job experiences didn't end very well and as I reflect on my journey, I lead thinking I needed to be in charge to lead effective change. I was wrong, it's all about influence with people. This book will teach you how. I am a former pastor now medical device sales rep and better for reading this book.

Outstanding book......wish I had read it years ago. …worth everyone reading even if you are never the lead person, you are a leader. Very thought provoking how Clay approches what could be a serious problem and simply explains how even when you have the authority you may not be a real lead person. This was one of the strong, thought-provoking points in the book.

This book is great. Clay Scroggins confronts head on the lie that you must be the designated person in charge to lead. The truth is, you lead yourself every day. How you lead yourself determines how you lead others. Being a leader is more about discipline than bossing others. This book challenged me in several areas of my life to look and make sure I'm leading myself well.

Great insight into the art of leading. If you are a leader, want to be a leader or just be a better follower this book is for you. A down to earth look at the skill of leading people through influence. I recommend this book to everyone!!

This is a really helpful book. It is built around simple concepts, but the author does a good job of moving from just the theoretical to the practical. I'd recommend it for anyone who desires to increase their leadership potential, but who perhaps finds themselves without the position of leadership.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. Clay presents practical and essential steps to help you reach your leadership potential even if you are not the person in charge. Everyone has influence and how we chose to use our influence determines our level of impact, Clay bring this point to light in a powerful way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow as a leader.

This book is exceptionally relevant for everyone that isn't in charge and for those that are. Having listened to it I ordered copies for everyone on my team. I can't wait to share this with my Coaching Clients too. Every Pastor on every team should read this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. For one the format flows nicely and the important content is expressed clearly and quickly. I did not feel like there was repetitive information. It was a fairly easy read and has lot of practical action driven ways to help improve any community you a part of no matter your role. Highly recommend this amazing read.

This was a great read! An all-around solid leadership book from a clear Christian perspective.

"You can tell the character of a leader not by how they are treated by their equals, but by how they are viewed by those under them." - Clay Scroggins

Practical examples that will help anyone aspiring to influence their peers. Tackles issues of leading yourself personally, challenging employers appropriately, and how build trust amongst others. Clay shares his personal struggles, and shares stories of other people who have embraced the concept of self leadership. Also a quick read which is helpful!

Clay Scroggins has hit the ball out of the park. This book is insightful and full of excellent examples of life experiences which will help the reader "lead." The timing of this book could not be any better with massive changes in the way people and companies are growing and changing. Just like it has been stated in the military, the sergeants get the jobs done.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in middle management or even thinking of getting into management.

As a staff pastor, I greatly enjoyed this book as a leadership tool. I’m greatly looking forward to putting what I’ve learned in this book into practice. One of the best pieces of advice is that leadership starts with leading you. Only when you do that can you properly lead others. Read this book for more great advice, and learn how to lead in whatever role you’re in.

Absolutely incredible book, changed the way I lead, think, and relate to those I lead. One of my job experiences didn't end very well and as I reflect on my journey, I lead thinking I needed to be in charge to lead effective change. I was wrong, it's all about influence with people. This book will teach you how. I am a former pastor now medical device sales rep and better for reading this book.

Outstanding book......wish I had read it years ago. …worth everyone reading even if you are never the lead person, you are a leader. Very thought provoking how Clay approches what could be a serious problem and simply explains how even when you have the authority you may not be a real lead person. This was one of the strong, thought-provoking points in the book.

This book is great. Clay Scroggins confronts head on the lie that you must be the designated person in charge to lead. The truth is, you lead yourself every day. How you lead yourself determines how you lead others. Being a leader is more about discipline than bossing others. This book challenged me in several areas of my life to look and make sure I'm leading myself well.

Great insight into the art of leading. If you are a leader, want to be a leader or just be a better follower this book is for you. A down to earth look at the skill of leading people through influence. I recommend this book to everyone!!

This is a really helpful book. It is built around simple concepts, but the author does a good job of moving from just the theoretical to the practical. I'd recommend it for anyone who desires to increase their leadership potential, but who perhaps finds themselves without the position of leadership.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. Clay presents practical and essential steps to help you reach your leadership potential even if you are not the person in charge. Everyone has influence and how we chose to use our influence determines our level of impact, Clay bring this point to light in a powerful way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow as a leader.

This book is exceptionally relevant for everyone that isn't in charge and for those that are. Having listened to it I ordered copies for everyone on my team. I can't wait to share this with my Coaching Clients too. Every Pastor on every team should read this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. For one the format flows nicely and the important content is expressed clearly and quickly. I did not feel like there was repetitive information. It was a fairly easy read and has lot of practical action driven ways to help improve any community you a part of no matter your role. Highly recommend this amazing read.

This was a great read! An all-around solid leadership book from a clear Christian perspective.

"You can tell the character of a leader not by how they are treated by their equals, but by how they are viewed by those under them." - Clay Scroggins