Week 1: Clarity & Confidence – Leading Yourself First

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about action. Emerging leaders in coworking spaces often find themselves in dynamic, fast-paced environments where influence, decision-making, and visibility matter. However, many hesitate to step into leadership because they believe it’s reserved for those in management roles.

This first week of the 12 Leadership Challenges is designed to break through that hesitation by building clarity and confidence. These challenges help individuals recognize their existing leadership behaviours, make quick, decisive choices, and actively contribute in professional discussions.

Challenge 1: The ‘Invisible Leadership’ Test

💡 Leadership happens before a title is given. The way you impact others daily defines the kind of leader you already are.

Action:

• Throughout your workday, identify at least three moments where your actions influence others without an official leadership role.
• These could include:
• Offering guidance to a co-worker.
• Encouraging someone to take action.
• Helping resolve a minor challenge within the workspace.

Reflection:

• What patterns do you notice in how you naturally lead?
• Do people look to you for support, ideas, or direction?
• How does recognizing these moments shift your mindset about leadership?

Outcome:

This exercise reveals that leadership is already within you. Once you acknowledge the ways you naturally influence others, you’ll gain confidence in leading more deliberately.

Challenge 2: The Decision Maker’s Rule

💡 Indecision is the enemy of progress. Leaders act with clarity and confidence, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Action:

• Identify a decision—big or small—that you’ve been delaying.
• Set a 10-minute timer and commit to making the decision before time runs out.
• Take action immediately based on that decision.

Reflection:

• What was stopping you from deciding earlier? Fear? Overthinking? Waiting for the perfect moment?
• How did it feel to commit to a decision within a strict time frame?
• What did you learn about the relationship between leadership and decisiveness?

Outcome:

This challenge forces you to develop the habit of quick, confident decision-making. Leaders don’t always make perfect choices, but they make choices and adjust when necessary.

Challenge 3: The ‘No More Hiding’ Exercise

💡 Great ideas remain unseen when we hold back. Leadership is about having the courage to contribute, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Action:

• In your next meeting, contribute at least one idea, insight, or question that you’d normally hesitate to share.
• Focus on value—your input doesn’t need to be ground-breaking, just authentic and relevant.

Reflection:

• What held you back from speaking up in the past?
• How did people react to your contribution?
• What did you learn about visibility and leadership presence?

Outcome:

Speaking up is a muscle that strengthens with practice. By pushing through hesitation, you’ll start seeing yourself as someone whose voice deserves space in professional discussions.

Final Takeaway for Week 1

These three challenges help emerging leaders in coworking spaces step into leadership through action, not permission. By recognizing their existing leadership moments, making decisions without overthinking, and contributing confidently, they build the foundation for stronger influence and career growth.

This is just the beginning. Leadership doesn’t start when someone gives you a title—it starts when you choose to lead yourself first.