When You Lead Up, You Lift the Whole Team
Second Chairs have a unique vantage point.
You’re close enough to see what’s happening on the front lines and close enough to influence the big picture. When you lead up well, you’re not just helping your First Chair, you’re lifting the entire team.
Leading up doesn’t mean undermining authority or pushing your own agenda. It means actively helping your First Chair succeed so the mission can thrive.
Healthy First Chair–Second Chair partnerships thrive when both sides understand that leadership isn’t a zero-sum game.
Here’s what leading up looks like in practice:
Key Points:
- Anticipate Needs: Spot challenges before they ever hit your First Chair’s desk.
- Bring Solutions, Not Just Problems: Every problem you raise should come with at least one recommended next step.
- Protect Their Blind Spots: Your First Chair can’t see everything from their vantage point, but you can.
Ask Yourself:
If you’re a Second Chair:
- What’s one area where my First Chair is carrying extra weight that I could own?
- Where can I bring not just the problem but a solution this week?
- What blind spot am I noticing that I need to address with courage?
If you’re a First Chair:
- Do I view my Second Chair as a partner who can lead up, or only as a manager of tasks?
- Where could I invite them to bring solutions and perspective before I make a decision?
When you lead up, you’re not bypassing authority; you’re multiplying leadership. And when leadership multiplies, the whole team rises.
You’re not alone:
Download the Second Chair Clarity Guide, your tool to define and lead from your lane.
Or book a free Discovery Call and we’ll walk through your real-world leadership tensions together..
Two Chairs | One Mission
Where trust grows and leadership multiplies.
