Stepping Into Unofficial Leadership
Stepping Into Unofficial Leadership
This intensive one-day workshop is designed for the unsung heroes of workplace culture – those who lead without it being in their job title. Whether you're steering an Employee Resource Group, mentoring colleagues, or championing new starters, you're creating change from within. But often, this vital work goes unrecognised, unsupported, and unrewarded.
Stepping Into Unofficial Leadership equips you with the strategies, tools, and confidence to amplify your impact whilst protecting your wellbeing and securing the recognition you deserve.
What We'll Address
Let's be real – you're already doing the work, but it's complicated. This workshop tackles the stuff that keeps you up at night:
Recognition Gaps – Your leadership contributions are invisible when review time comes around
Resource Scarcity – Trying to create magic with zero budget and even less support
Engagement Fatigue – Feeling like you're shouting into the void when nobody shows up
Strategic Limitations – Being stuck in the 'awareness month' cycle instead of creating real change
Influence vs Authority – Having your input requested but completely ignored when decisions get made
Sustainability Concerns – Burning out from all the unpaid emotional labour you're carrying
Professional Growth – Wondering if this network stuff is actually helping or hurting your career
What You'll Gain
By the end of this workshop, you'll have the clarity and confidence to lead sustainably without losing yourself in the process.
Strategic Clarity means you'll finally have a proper framework for planning programming that doesn't leave you overwhelmed and exhausted. You'll know exactly how to measure and communicate your network's business impact in language that executives actually understand, plus you'll have concrete strategies for getting the senior sponsorship and budget you've been desperately needing.
Leadership Confidence is about owning your influence even when you don't have the fancy title. You'll learn practical techniques for leading through relationships and trust, how to facilitate those awkward conversations that everyone's been avoiding, and methods for building genuine engagement instead of guilt-tripping people into showing up.
Professional Protection focuses on keeping your sanity whilst doing this work. You'll develop rock-solid boundaries to prevent burnout and resentment, learn how to frame your network leadership as the career-enhancing experience it actually is, and get templates for documenting your contributions so they can't be ignored during performance reviews.
Sustainable Systems are about building something that doesn't entirely depend on you burning the candle at both ends. You'll create delegation frameworks that actually work with willing volunteers, develop communication strategies that shift organisational culture rather than just raising awareness, and establish self-care practices that acknowledge the unique emotional demands of culture work.
Who This Workshop Is For
ERG and Employee Network Leaders managing communities without formal authority
Mentors and Coaches supporting colleagues' development and progression
New Starter Buddies helping integrate fresh talent into company culture
Culture Champions driving inclusion initiatives alongside their day job
Anyone leading change through influence rather than hierarchy
Investment in Your Leadership
This workshop is about finally getting the recognition and support for the leadership you're already showing up with every day. You'll leave with practical tools, renewed energy, and a clear path forward – not just surviving your unofficial leadership role, but actually thriving in it.
Because leading without a title doesn't mean leading without impact, recognition, or support.