You’re a leader. That’s why you’re here.
When most people think about leadership, they picture leading down — guiding employees, directing contractors, or managing team members who report to them. It’s the traditional view, and frankly, it’s where most leadership training tends to focus.
But effective leadership doesn’t move in just one direction. The most impactful leaders understand that leadership flows in every direction on the organizational chart. They know how to influence, support, and align others, whether they’re leading down, leading up, or leading sideways.
In any business or organization, opportunities to lead show up everywhere — regardless of title or role. That’s why we like this simple definition:
Leadership is the act of influencing people to move in a specific shared direction.
There are two key elements here: influence and shared direction. People choose to follow effective leaders without the need for force or pressure. This is because the goal creates mutual benefit and shared commitment.
You’ve likely heard plenty about leading down. Today, let’s focus on two leadership muscles that often get overlooked: leading up and leading sideways.
Leading Up
Leading up is the ability to effectively influence and communicate with people at higher levels of the organization. Managers lead up when working with executives. Team members lead up when interacting with managers. Even CEOs lead up when they influence boards, investors, or strategic partners.
Strong leaders don’t wait for authority — they step forward with insight.
Leading up often looks like sharing perspectives that those above you may not see, taking thoughtful initiative, stepping into greater responsibility when needed and supporting organizational priorities with clarity and alignment.
When you lead upward well, you demonstrate something powerful: you understand the bigger picture and are thinking beyond your current role.
That visibility matters.
Leading Sideways
Leading sideways is the art of influencing peers and colleagues across the organization. This is where collaboration either thrives… or breaks down.
To lead effectively at the peer level, shift from a competitive mindset to a collaborative one. Organizations move faster and more smoothly when silos come down, and bridges go up.
Strong sideways leaders:
- Build trust and credibility with peers
- Share information openly
- Look for win-win solutions
- Elevate team success over personal spotlight
In fact, people who excel at leading sideways often find themselves naturally leading up as well because their peers trust them to represent shared interests.
One of the clearest markers of sideways leadership is generosity with credit. The strongest peer relationships are built when responsibility — and recognition — are shared across the team.
Leadership in All Directions
If you want to expand your impact in business and in life, don’t limit your leadership to one direction.
Lead down with clarity.
Lead up with insight.
Lead sideways with collaboration.
When you develop the ability to influence in every direction, you open doors for your team, your organization, and your own future.
And that’s what real leadership is all about.
Blessings,
Chris Ann Williams, CEO