Leading from within doesn't mean tapping your inner leader (though that isn't a bad idea). Most people have been conditioned over the years to associate being a leader with being in charge. If you wait for official anointment, you might not only get long in the tooth, but you might let one opportunity after another pass. You could squander chances to further develop your leadership skills and make a difference in how effective your organization could be. Instead, learn how to act as a leader, no matter where you are in a group.