How To Lead Up When Your Leader Won’t Listen

I’ll never forget this moment early in my career… I was an associate veterinarian, and I noticed our surgical prep process was creating unnecessary stress for the tech team. Instruments weren’t organized, and we were constantly scrambling to find what we needed. Instead of complaining, I took time to understand why things were being done that way. Once I had that perspective, I created a new layout and offered to personally set it up. Within a week, the stress level in the surgery room dropped, and our efficiency skyrocketed. That was my first real taste of what it means to lead up.

Years later, I watched the same principle play out in my own clinic. One of my techs realized our discharge instructions were confusing clients. Instead of just pointing out the issue, she designed a clear, easy-to-read template, tested it with a few clients, and then volunteered to roll it out clinic-wide. She wasn’t in a formal leadership role, but her influence changed the way we communicate—and our clients loved it.

That’s the heart of leading up. Sometimes the key isn’t waiting for someone above you to lead—it’s stepping into influence yourself.

Here are three strategies you can start using right away:

1. Spend time in your leader’s world.

Take the time to understand the processes they use. Why do they do things the way they do? What pressures are they balancing? When you invest in learning their perspective, you gain influence. And influence builds trust.

2. Don’t just bring problems—bring solutions.

Walking into the office with a complaint will only get you so far. Instead, frame your concern with a solution in hand. Even better, show that you’ve thought through why your solution makes sense.

3. Offer to be the catalyst for change.

This one’s powerful. Don’t just pitch your idea—volunteer to take ownership of implementing it. Leaders are often stretched thin, so when you show that you understand their time is valuable and that you’re willing to carry the ball forward, you immediately set yourself apart.

Leading up isn’t about overstepping—it’s about building trust, creating influence, and showing that you’re invested in solutions. If you do this consistently, you’ll find yourself not just being heard, but being trusted with real impact.