Leadership is hard. That isn’t news.

It is hard to lead people. It is hard to lead followers. It is hard to lead those under you or those who work next to you on the organizational chart (you know, the ones you can’t make do something.)

It is tough to lead those over you, to lead up.

Yet, to get anywhere in leadership, you must learn to lead up.

Why?

The person above you probably controls your budget, your salary, your benefits, and if what you want to do gets done. They can decide what you will work on, what your team will get to do, how large your team is and how much budget your team gets. The list goes on and on.

The person above you potentially controls a lot.

To accomplish what you want to accomplish at work and in your life, you need to lead them well.

So how do you lead up? Here are 3 ways to lead up and accomplish what God has called you to without losing your leadership.

Because don’t mistake this: if you don’t lead up well, you will have a hard time fulfilling your potential and reaching your goals.

1. Affirm and back their vision. Right now, if you aren’t the leader at the top of the organizational chart, you are a follower. If you can’t follow well, you can’t lead well. What if you don’t support their vision? Unless it isn’t biblical, you chose to be there. It would be best if you were submissive to that. As long as it isn’t heretical, just different from what you would do, follow well. Having sat in both the first chair and the second chair of churches, it is easy to think you know what is best or how you would do it better when you aren’t the leader. The reality is, you only see what you see. So while it might seem right from your vantage point, remember, it is just that—your vantage point. You don’t know how your ideas would affect everyone. You don’t know the entire history of things or what has been tried before. You also don’t know what other leaders are working on.

2.  Be patient. Your timing is not God’s timing. I knew when I was 21 that I would one day plant a church. I didn’t know where or when, but I knew. It was when I was 29 in a state I had never set foot in before. Those 8 years were hard, sometimes painful, but they were formative. Be in the moment. Seek to learn what you can. If you aren’t in charge, relish that. Prepare for when you are. Watch. Listen. Ask questions. Seek out mentors that will help you in the future. Read books. Be ready for when God says, “Go.” The time that you are “waiting” is not wasted time but a time of preparation.

3. Risk when the time is right. If you are being a good follower, showing character and integrity, and being patient, you will know when to risk and what to risk. You will know when to push back on ideas and when to keep your mouth shut. You will also know when you should leave or stay in your role. Your boss may not be all that you want them to be, but they also may be helping you in ways you don’t know. So support them. Ask them for more leadership opportunities, give ideas, and share your dreams. But you also need to know if you should stay, as seasons in life and ministry change.

This is a timing and heart issue. I’ve watched countless guys say “Go,” and it was terrible timing for them, their families, and the church they left. Can God overcome anything and call anyone at any time? Yes. God is also wise and doesn’t always call us to the stupidest thing we could do. If you think, “Is this stupid? That must be God’s will for my life.” That is a terrible way to discern that. But lots of people equate crazy risk with stupid. Don’t put your family in a bind. Don’t put the church you are leaving in a bind. Remember, the way you leave a church is how they will remember you. They will forget everything else you did.

One last caveat. Not everyone is supposed to lead the team or organization. Too many people get promoted one level past their level of competency, which is heartbreaking to watch and brutal for that person to walk through. However, many of us need to learn that lesson the hard way. Be wise in that step. Pay attention to what those who love you and trust you say to you about your gifts. Don’t just listen to your “fans.”