I agree that your job may be more difficult, but it is not impossible. Here is my simple definition of leadership: Leadership is not about the ability of those around you to lead; it’s about your ability to lead despite that which is happening around you. Effective leaders rise to the occasion. By the way, when I talk about leaders, I am not just referring to people who have others reporting to them. Of course, a person (such as a manager) who has others reporting to him or her on a “solid line,” or a project manager or team leader, to whom others report on a “dotted line,” are clearly in leadership positions. However, you can be a leader without anyone reporting to you if your job requires decision-making, negotiating, influencing others, being creative, and making things happen—to name a few.