Permissionless Success: Stop waiting, and start innovating at work

“I need more direction from my boss(or client or board)”. It’s a refrain I hear often, I have even said it myself , and it is an outlook that causes even the most talented professionals to get stuck and can lead to failure.

Stop looking for direction at work and start creating it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Stop waiting.

Chances are if you aren’t already getting direction, it’s not coming. Don’t view this as a breakdown in communication, but an invitation to design your own plan. Take action, and you show your value by stepping up to fill the void.

Step 2: Find ways to add value.

Ask yourself, “How can I add value?” Think of needs that aren’t currently being met or resource gaps that are crippling progress. What are the big picture priorities where you can have the most impact?

Next, ask yourself, “Do I need permission to do that?” Chances are if your plan is inside the scope of your job description, the answer is no. So take a page from Nike’s playbook and Just Do It. If your plan is legitimately something you need permission on, devise a strategy to get that permission by winning over the folks empowered to sign off.

Step 3: Prepare your case.

Know your plan inside and out. Think about the rapid-fire questions posed to business owners on the reality TV show, Shark Tank- your level of preparedness needs to rival theirs. Is your plan worth the investment in time and talent? Have a credible answer for all objections and be ready to defend your ideas with statistics and credible case studies.-most of all know the numbers inside and out! Have mentors, friends and colleagues help you conduct a SWOT Analysis looking at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of your plan.

Step 4. Lead without authority.

This principle may seem illogical at first. How does anyone lead without authority? But the best lecture bar none I heard in college examined the important difference between referent authority (job title) and charismatic authority. If you are early in your career, chances are you might not have a significant title or referent authority. However, you can earn the same respect and many of the benefits of title authority by assuming the role through personal leadership. Depending on your goal, you might be able to accomplish most if not all of it with charisma alone. But if your workplace still requires sign off, use your confidence and charisma to find ways to manage up and get the approval you need.

Step 5: Learn from the experience.

Could your pursuit for permissionless success go wrong? Yes. Could you be told to stay in your lane and go sit back at your desk? Yes. But there is much to be learned from that too. If your ideas are quickly shot down, there are two scenarios at play; either you aren’t successfully selling your vision or you aren’t in an office environment that is going to allow you to succeed. If the first, go back to the drawing board and make a new plan. If the latter, start looking for a new job that encourages leadership and innovation.

This post was originally published on LinkedIn.