LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT TITLES
I am returning to this subject because of an interesting article I read this past week. The title of the article was” Leadership is More than a Title.”
The author, Regina Portnoy, is a clinical researcher who has worked for decades with doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.
In this article, she notes that years ago she realized that leadership is not measured by how many people report to you. Rather it is measured by how many people become stronger and grow because of you.
I also learned years ago that a nice title is lovely, but it does not imply leadership skills nor the impact we are having on other people. When I started working at Georgetown Law, my title was Director of Continuing Legal Education. Later that title was changed to Assistant Dean for Continuing Legal Education.
Did my title change or impact my view of leadership, my goals as a department head, or my outlook on my job and aspirations.
Absolutely not. The only tangible change was that both inside the law school and outside in public, students would call me “Dean Center.” When that happened, I would look around and wonder who they were talking to!
As Regina cites:
-We lead when we mentor new colleagues instead of letting them struggle alone.
-We lead when we listen before we speak.
-We lead when we encourage someone to ask another question instead of making them feel embarrassed for not knowing the answer.
-We lead when we create an environment where people feel respected and valued.
The beauty of this conclusion is that we do not need a fancy title to serve as a leader, both at our place of employment and in volunteer organizations. Rather, we need to think about the positive impact we wish to make on other people – on colleagues, on clients and on the organization.
As Regina says, when work teams feel supported,
-They communicate more openly.
-They solve problems more effectively.
-They collaborate instead of compete.
-They remain focused on what really matters.
And when that takes place, everyone benefits.
Regina is a mom of a young woman. And she says that as she watches her daughter grow, she’s teaching her that leadership is not about having the loudest voice, the biggest title, or the most authority.
She’s teaching her that true leadership is about making other people feel seen, and capable of becoming the very best versions of themselves.
This point resonated with me because I’ve been striving to teach that same lesson to my two sons, who are now 36 and 33. I am gratified and thrilled that each of them became leaders in the workplace soon after graduating from college, even though they did not possess big titles. They created strong relationships, listened hard, learned lessons, and showed vulnerability and empathy.
Regina Portnoy reminds us that the greatest leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders. I smiled when I read that. My very first newsletter five years ago was titled The Job of a Leader is to Create Other Leaders.”
As Regina says, her mentors showed her that
-Kindness and accountability can exist together,
-Expertise carries even more weight when paired with humility, and
-Recognition is one of the most powerful ways to inspire excellence in others.
What can you do – starting tomorrow – to embrace this portrait of leadership and to grow future leaders?
-Make a list
-Share it with others
-Review it on a regular basis
It is up to you.
If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!
-Larry