Why Leadership Isn’t About Your Title—It’s About Influence

You don’t need a title to be a leader. In many ways, titles can become a distraction. Leadership is about how you show up—not what’s printed on your business card. Many of the professionals I coach carry formal titles—Director, Manager, Vice President. And yet, even with authority on paper, they often struggle to influence others and move work forward. I also work with people who don’t have an official title but are expected to lead every day. Maybe they’re managing a project, mentoring others, or stepping into special initiatives. They’re accountable for results—but without formal authority.

The Reality: Titles Don’t Equal Influence

Here’s the truth: a title might signal responsibility, but it doesn’t guarantee authority. And it certainly doesn’t mean people will follow your lead or offer respect. 

Many of us believe that once we finally get the title, we’ll have the influence we crave. But true influence stems from how you show up. Titles can make us wait to lead, rather than stepping into leadership now. If we want to influence, we can’t rely on hierarchy. Old-school models—barking orders or trying to be everyone’s friend—are outdated and ineffective. Influence doesn’t come from command or charm. It comes from how you connect—and it starts with knowing who you are.

Step One: Know Thyself and Elevate Your Strengths

Leadership starts with showing up as your best self—not someone else’s version of leadership. Your strengths are your edge—and when you use them, people notice.

When I work with clients, we always begin by identifying what they do with ease and what energizes them. These are often their greatest contributions.

• They are a strategic thinker who sees patterns others miss.

• They know how to build deep trust quickly.

• They create elegant systems or mobilize diverse coalitions for impact.

• They problem-solve creatively or turn complex data into actionable insights.

These are their leading edge of influence.  When you lead from your strengths, you increase your impact—and you feel stronger, more authentic, and more engaged. That’s when others start to listen.

And when you lean into your strengths, you’re not fixing a weakness. You’re not pretending to be something you’re not. You’re activating what’s already innate.

Too many professionals waste energy trying to imitate some generic idea of leadership. But true influence comes from leveraging your natural strengths, not masking them. Activating strengths means showing up as your best self. It helps others see where you shine, where you create the most value—and it builds your confidence.

Step Two: Understand Others’ Behavioral Styles

But using your strengths is only half the equation. Influence also comes from how you relate to others—and how they perceive you. To lead without a title, you must understand the people around you and adapt your approach.

Each person has different preferences at work:

• Some are task-driven and goal-oriented.

• Others are focused on relationships and harmony.

• Some thrive in the ideas space.

• Others value structure, precision, and quality.

There’s no “best” style. Teams need all of them. And effective leaders—title or not—tune into what others need. They ask questions. They’re curious. They listen. My clients often tell me they’re adapting constantly and feel exhausted. But what they’re usually not doing is adjusting how they engage in a project. 

For example, let’s say a colleague delays delivering work because they’re afraid of getting it wrong. You could push harder—or you could pause and ask:
“What do you need to succeed?”
“Would it help if I clarified the expectations?”
That shift builds trust and opens the door to better performance.

Or maybe a coworker seems disorganized or slow to act. You might assume they’re ineffective—or you might ask what would help them engage. Maybe they need clearer direction. Maybe they need their ideas acknowledged before they move forward. Influence doesn’t come from fixing people. It comes from understanding them—and communicating in a way that meets them where they are.

Influence Is a Two-Way Street

Leadership without a title isn’t about pleasing everyone or over-functioning. It’s about self-awareness and other-awareness.

Know where you shine.
Notice how others tick.
Adapt to connect—not control.

When you do, your influence grows.

So if you’ve been waiting for a title to give you permission to lead—don’t.

Start with your strengths. Lead through connection.
And step into the role you already have—because leadership isn’t given. It’s claimed.