Why titles don’t matter to get the job done
Titles and positions mean nothing. They’re just decorations; they don’t reflect a person’s true worth. Every individual and role hold equal value.
Throughout my professional journey, I’ve faced numerous challenges, learned difficult lessons, and achieved many successes—all of which I credit to God. Without His guidance, none of it would have been achievable.
Today, I’d like to share a crucial lesson I’ve learned along the way that has transformed my understanding of leadership.
From a young age, I’ve felt a calling to leadership.
Despite consistently applying for leadership roles in various companies, I struggled to secure a leadership position on my own. I had the qualifications and excelled in all my tasks, earning the admiration of managers and supervisors. However, the elusive leadership title remained out of reach.
Nevertheless, I persevered. I continued to pursue leadership roles and climb the career ladder because I was certain that’s where God intended me to be.
For the longest time, I believed that God’s plan for me involved leadership in a business, working under someone else as a manager. I thought these roles were synonymous.
What I came to understand was that leadership and management are distinct roles with unique responsibilities.
I attribute everything to God; He has consistently supported me, even when I make mistakes (and I make plenty!). He has guided me along paths that I am deeply grateful for. He is the reason I have a wonderful wife and a beautiful family.
I had no idea that God had been using me in leadership roles all along. Reflecting on my past experiences, I realize that I exhibited leadership qualities in every position I held. At the time, I didn’t recognize it because I associated leadership solely with having a specific title.
My “AHA” moment struck when I landed a role with no inherent authority. I was given the challenging task of getting employees across the company to comply with tasks like paperwork and rules that I hadn’t established.
To complicate matters, we were a nationwide company, so I couldn’t personally meet with every individual to ask for form completions or to explain complex rules.
It took me a long time to realize my leadership potential, especially since I was only a few years into my new position before I fully understood it. This role taught me that true leadership doesn’t require formal authority.
I recall one instance in East Texas when a guy got into a CDL rig, and I knew he didn’t have the required CDL license.
When I calmly questioned him about what he was doing, he defiantly responded that his boss instructed him to do so, and he would follow his boss’s orders over mine!
I then had a discussion with his boss about the importance of having a CDL, but the boss dismissed my concerns, stating that his priority was making money and getting things done, regardless of the rules.
I was livid. I was incredibly angry at the guy, and I felt like screaming, but I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. I had to find a way to shift their mindset and help them understand why it was crucial to know and abide by the rules.
I needed to learn how to lead from a position without formal authority. Through years of experience, I’ve discovered that you can make a significant impact and bring about change without holding a specific title.
In short, during that role, I managed to transform the company from one of the worst in the nation to one of the best in less than a year. This marked a significant shift in my career mindset—from “I need the title” to “I don’t require the title.”
It’s not about rejecting titles, but understanding that they aren’t necessary to effect change and make a difference.
Many people mistakenly believe that you must hold a specific managerial position or carry a particular title to be considered a leader and make an impact. Here’s the newsflash: You don’t, and I’m living proof of that.
That’s the message I want to convey here. I used to be someone nobody wanted to work with—aiming to be a leader but behaving like a boss. I had to shift my mindset and actions, moving from seeking authority to inspiring others to do what is right.
After I changed my mindset and let go of my obsession with titles, I found myself blessed with leadership roles one after another.
Just look at where we are today. Whenever I discuss Eclipse DOT or DOT Docs, it’s always about the collective effort: we accomplished this together.
It used to bother me a lot when we first started. People would inquire about the business, and I would reply with something like, “Yes, we have certainly built something amazing here!”
Their reaction would be, “We? Who else is on your team?”
As a great leader, your responsibility is to uplift your team, not to take credit for their work. Give them recognition, both when they are present and especially when they are not.
One important lesson is that titles are not essential for getting the job done, and this comes from someone who once coveted them all.
Now, I eagerly look forward to passing on my title to a more deserving person to lead our business!
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