Leadership Doesn't Always Come in Pinstripes

An informal leader is someone within an organization who is seen as worthy of following despite not having an ‘official’ title.



I used to work as a forklift operator in a warehouse that was more or less guided by an informal leader. There was an older forklift operator there who could probably drive circles around everyone else. I think his name was Clarence, but everyone called him “PeeWee”.



PeeWee knew every nook and cranny of that warehouse, and knew how to keep our whole fleet of fork trucks, tuggers and pallet jacks running consistently and safely. Formal management saw him as the “go to” guy when logistical problems arose. And he had the utmost respect of his peers.



Oddly, PeeWee always scoffed at formal leadership. I once asked him about becoming warehouse supervisor. He responded by first cussing under his breath and then said, “No way, man.” I think he thought, perhaps rightly so, that a formal title would bring more responsibility, culpability and stress.