Leading Sideways: A Case Study of Bottom-up Records Management Implementation

When formal authority is absent, records management professionals must cultivate alternative leadership approaches rooted in influence, relationship-building, and strategic vision. This paper examines the journey of implementing campus-wide records practices without administrative mandate or support, drawing on experience from a mid-size American-style university in the Middle East. Through analysis of grassroots implementation strategies, the paper identifies key approaches for guiding institutional change: identifying stakeholder motivations, communicating value in departmental languages, and building coalitions across organisational silos. Rather than relying on top-down directives, the research explores lateral leadership—creating pockets of compliance that demonstrate tangible benefits and gradually shift institutional culture. The paper addresses the challenges of navigating scepticism and hostility while maintaining professional integrity and purpose. By examining how adaptability and strategic communication enable agency, this work demonstrates how records professionals can transform institutional practices one relationship, one department, and one success story at a time.