You are doing the work of a senior leader.
Carrying the weight.
Solving the problems.
Creating value.
Holding the team together when no one else will.
Stepping in when leadership gaps appear.
But the title is not yours.
Not yet.
You tell yourself to be patient.
That growth takes time.
That recognition follows consistency.
And still, waiting quietly does not mean it does not sting.
Because deep down,
you know you are already leading.
Just without the label.
Just without the compensation.
You watch others move ahead,
and you wonder if timing, politics, or visibility
sometimes speak louder than performance.
Still, you stay.
Not because you are stuck,
but because you understand that how you lead today
shapes who you become tomorrow.
The waiting room is uncomfortable.
But it is also formative.
It is where leaders are refined, not assigned.
Where patience meets preparation.
Where posture matters more than position.
So keep showing up.
Keep doing the work no one applauds.
Because when the door finally opens,
you will not walk in hopeful.
You will walk in proven.