I'm looking for someone. Maybe you know them? You'll find them in pretty much every organisation and every industry. I like to call them the "chronically overqualified and tragically sidelined."

I'm talking about the person who knows where the bodies are buried, right? That person everyone makes a beeline for when they need to know how something really works, or why it's not working, or why it broke in the first place, or what to do about… and yet nobody outside the building (or sometimes even their office) knows their name.

Now, some of them chose that "I'm here if you need me, and minding my business in the background if you don't" role. Plenty didn't. But at some point they'd put their hand up to show they felt ready for more authority and responsibility and got told, "Sit down, shut up, you don't know what you're talking about, give it more time, if you do that then who's gonna do this, what makes you think… etc." Usually by someone who didn't fancy the competition, or the idea of change. So they sat down, because they're gracious like that, which is exactly why I believe they should be running things.

Don't get me wrong, we need fighters, but I'm after a particular kind: like the calmest person you've ever watched get dragged in public and not take the bait.

The one who asks for perspectives before deciding, from those they recognise know more about this thing than they do, instead of announcing their name is on the door and therefore they know everything. The person who immediately recognises responsibility after a catastrophe and therefore takes it. Not to fall on their sword, but to get to the "fix this mess" bit as quickly as possible because the blame game is lame. People like that are few and far between, right? But I'm looking for at least one in every industry because I'm convinced they exist.

Some of them took one look at who's holding the power right now and thought, "You know, to be where they are, I'd need to become who they are. And I'm really not inclined to become a dick. Soooo… I guess that's the end of this idea. What's for dinner later?"

Others worry that putting their hat in the ring makes them look like trouble, like they're getting above their station or rocking the boat, and we often see boat-rockers get relegated to the basement. So sometimes it's easier to live the easy life, keep your mouth shut and make sure the cheque is coming in so you can pay the mortgage.

Listen, no judgement from me, I understand all'a that. These people did everything right. They built their expertise, followed the rules, learned everything they needed to and proved themselves again and again in their field, and one knockback is all it takes for them to say, "You know what? This challenging leadership stuff isn't for me. Lemme not make waves. I'll head back to my desk now."

But if there's a small spark in you wondering what leading and being in power would be like (and doing it your way, not the way you've watched it being done in your industry or on The Wolf of Wall Street), then staying seated has one helluva cost.

Letting less capable people instead of you fill the seats reserved for those in power is fast becoming a global catastrophe. And I know sometimes it feels like stepping back into the shadows and staying silent because you're not obnoxious or bossy or egocentric or performative must mean you're weak. And I wish I could grab you by the shoulders, look you straight in your eyes, and tell you, "The last thing you are is weak."

Keep your kindness and the consideration. You'll need both. Keep your calm and analytical approach. They'll stand you in good stead for what's coming down the line. What has to go is sitting down every time someone tells you to, because refusing power isn't the modest gesture you think it is. It's a major loss to everyone.

We need you.

Lemme say it louder for those frantically fighting fires that never would have happened had you made the decision. We need you.

Wondering what it'd be like to be in charge and change things for the better is the sort of self-belief and conviction needed, I don't care if your inner voice is telling you it's greedy or conceited. If you've got the expertise and you know you could make a difference in your field, stepping forward is no longer optional. At this point it's stewardship, and self-interest has nothing to do with it.

So your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to:

• Step forward.

• Own your expertise.

• Take responsibility for what you have and what's in your wheelhouse.

• Make sure what you're brilliant at is front and centre in your industry, your organisation, your world.

Because seriously, if you don't, some clown far less capable will do it anyway. They'll do it predictably badly, and everyone pays.

And yes, accepting this mission means change, but you don't become someone else. You never have to be anybody you don't want to be. You can do this as you. The assignment is consolidating your position around what's already there: your knowledge and experience, aka your expertise. Make that position strong enough, and the people around you have no choice but to hand over the wheel. And with that authority, the power follows.

Project Power Player exists to help everyone else see what you know you've got, because right now you're doing a really good job keeping it under wraps, and you're not doing anyone any favours.

So here's my big, bold and beautiful vision.

I'm picturing a Power Player in every industry, leading effectively and deciding resolutely and communicating emphatically with empathy and generally doing the right thing, with all of them connected to each other as a collective of "Power Peers." (I just thought of that. I was calling this an "army of Power Players", but I like "Power Peers" way more. Still workshoppin' it though.)

Anyway, this might be a little bit optimistic of me. Power Players in every industry make for a lot of incredible humans to help. And there's a limit to how many players I can work with one-to-one since I'm stuck with just 24 hours in a day, but I've realised there's no limit to how many I can talk to, which is why you're reading this.

And before you worry about the wrong people sneaking in on this one because they somehow get in everywhere: they won't. Nobody gets through because they talk a good game or because of who they know or because they can bully their way through. I'm Coach Kym, for crying out loud. I'm the bouncer on the door, and I know immediately if you really 'bout it 'bout it. So fake it 'til you make it won't fly.

Seriously though, if you genuinely don't want this, do stay seated. It isn't an easy ride, there's a lot that needs to be secured in place before power shows up in a way you can use it.

But if something in you says, "I could do this. I don't quite know how, but I know this is meant for me," then I'mma need you to raise your hand again, and this time raise it high.

And if you're still not sure, start with this question, and be honest about the answer:

What could it be like if I held the power here?