If you want to be seen as a leader, you need to act like one first.

Being seen as a leader is a choice you make. From the outside, leadership looks like a role or a post that your organization gives you. Nothing could be further from the truth. People in leadership roles are there as a result of their decision to be leaders, and not the other way around. No one but you can make you a leader.

So, if you want to be seen as a leader, start acting like one. Dedicate yourself to your values and to serving others. Commit to acting courageously even—and especially—when things are difficult. Have a vision of a better future and inspire others to co-create that future.

If you act like a leader, people will start to see you as one. Here are 5 actions you can take to step up to leadership right now, no matter where you are in your organization:

  1. Volunteer to lead a project: It doesn’t matter if the project is large, medium, or small, taking on responsibility will demonstrate your leadership capacity. It might be drafting questions for consideration on a customer survey, collecting data on sales for a quarterly report, or researching a proposed tech upgrade. Even if the project seems minor, like a company toy drive, taking ownership and inspiring others to chip in can increase your stock as a potential leader.
  2. Ask questions: Curiosity is an important leadership trait. Leaders wonder why things aren’t better and how things could grow. Often, the most important question is, “What if….” When you go to a meeting, participate in the Q&A period at the end. When your boss announces something new, ask questions and get clarity. Chances are that others are wondering the same thing you are.
  3. Be accountable for customer success: Customers are the life-blood of every business. If you go the extra mile to ensure customer success, you are at the core of improving the business. Discussing customer problems and solutions with your team, even after the problem is solved, can generate innovative ideas for improvement. Owning your customers’ problems highlights your commitment to excellence and your contribution to creating a better company. Both are leadership traits that will get you noticed.
  4. Ask for feedback and give it. You signal trust in someone when you ask for feedback, and leadership is predicated on trust. Ask your boss or peers for constructive suggestions about how you can grow and be even better. Offer them positive feedback and if they are open to suggestions, focus on what they can do even more of. Ask questions about what they want to learn. The best feedback is a conversation. Seek advice and guidance on a casual basis a few times a year.
  5. Develop someone else: Be a mentor for a peer or someone newer in the organization. Find someone who needs a skill you are good at and help them get better at it. In return, ask them to help you find ways you can improve in skills where they excel. You will both be better off and gain friendship and loyalty for future growth, a win-win.

No matter how you demonstrate that you are stepping up to lead, make sure you do it consistently and show support for others. When you truly dedicate yourself to making your organization better, people will notice.