Championing the Unofficial Leader

In my last post, I wrote about the unofficial leader (the person who leads without the title). The one who holds the team steady during transitions, mediates tension, and motivates others simply by showing up with clarity and care.

These leaders are often the heart of a team, but they’re just as often overlooked. And while recognizing them is a start, true leadership means going further: investing in them, preparing them, and creating real pathways forward.

If you’ve got an unofficial leader on your team, here’s how to show up for them like they’ve been showing up for everyone else.

Here are the main "tips and tricks" to truly championing the unofficial leaders that you are currently leading:

1. See It, Name It, Say It Out Loud

Recognition is powerful, but only if it’s clear, specific, and intentional. Unofficial leaders are often quietly holding things together behind the scenes. They’re not always the ones jumping up to be noticed, which means they’re also the ones most at risk of being missed.

If you see it, say it. Not just in a passing “thanks for all you do,” but in real, affirming language:

• “I notice how others look to you.”

• “You’re already leading, even without the title.”

• “You’re shaping the culture in meaningful ways. And that is so important!”

Put words to their impact and, more importantly, speak those words in rooms they’re not in. That’s how reputations are built and how doors begin to open for them.

2. Pay Attention to the Emotional Labour

Unofficial leaders often carry more than their share. They check in on teammates, keep spirits up during busy seasons, and quietly set the tone for how others show up. That kind of leadership takes energy.

Offer regular check-ins. Ask how they’re doing, not just how they’re performing. Name the value of their steady presence. Let them know the way they boost morale and influence team culture hasn’t gone unnoticed.

And don’t just call them strong. Call them intentional leaders. That’s the kind of recognition that fuels people to keep showing up with heart.

3. Create Pathways

If someone has been leading unofficially for years, they don’t need to prove themselves. They already have through trust, consistency, and influence. What they need now is access.

Invite them to sit in on higher-level meetings. Bring them into small decisions so they can build confidence and context. Be clear about what the path to leadership looks like at your organization, and when the time comes, be the one who says, “I’ll back them.”

We don’t need to "gatekeep" power to protect our own. A growth mindset is a key part of successful leadership; and that means creating space for others to rise. Leadership isn’t about holding the spotlight. It’s about knowing when to share it.

If you lead a team, you set the tone. When you choose to lift someone up, when you choose to name what’s already true, when you choose to build pathways and start cheering them on, you’re building a culture where morale rises, where leadership feels possible, and where people know they’re not being taken for granted.

So today, look around your team. Who’s leading without the title? How can you support them? How can you help them rise? Remember: morale is the heartbeat of a healthy, successful workplace. And it’s often the unofficial leaders who keep that heartbeat steady. If we want to build strong, values-driven teams, we need to make sure those leaders aren’t just holding things together behind the scenes. We need to recognize them, invest in them, and cheer them on as they rise.

Because when morale leads, everyone rises with it.