The Unofficial Leader

We all know her. She doesn’t necessarily have the title, but she leads. She lifts others up, mentors without being asked, and fills the gaps no one else sees. She leads with heart and presence. She’s driven by values and sets the tone for what team morale really looks like. Her leadership might be unofficial, but her impact is huge.

She is the unofficial leader.

Unofficial leaders shape culture in invisible yet influential ways. They are emotionally intelligent, and with that intelligence, they lead through connection and values. They build strong relationships, and their greatest strength is their ability to shift morale by lifting the energy of a team when it matters most.

Morale sets the tone for how a team functions day to day. Unofficial leaders often play the most critical role in keeping it steady. It’s about creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and motivated. When morale is strong, teams thrive. When it’s ignored, even the best strategies don’t work. That’s why the ability to influence morale isn’t a soft skill, it’s honestly a leadership superpower.

But here’s the thing, being the unofficial leader can suck.

I know this, because for a long time, I was one. I was celebrated behind the scenes but overlooked when it mattered. I was “the heart of the team” until there was a promotion. For years I was building teams, lifting others, influencing culture, often without an official title.

Although that felt disheartening, I'm grateful for that journey because it taught me that leadership is about presence, not position.

Eventually, I found the agency that saw it. They didn’t need convincing. They didn’t ask me to prove myself time and time again. They recognized the leader in how I was showing up. And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I had to work twice as hard just to be considered.

I’ve gotten really good at spotting unofficial leaders, both at work and out in the community. I always encourage them to keep building their leadership skills so they can go after the title or role they’ve been dreaming of. We need more people cheering them on, because without them, morale takes a hit, and let’s be honest, no one wants to work somewhere with low morale.

Just a quiet reminder, your leadership is real. And you don’t have to settle for being unseen.