The Great Misunderstanding 

We spend our careers chasing titles. We want the "Senior," the "Chief," the "Director." We believe that once we have the title, we will finally have the authority to lead effectively. We believe the title is the magic wand that will make people listen, align teams, and solve problems.

But here is the hard truth I share in Dear Leader: A title gives you authority, but it does not give you capacity.

Authority vs. Capacity 

Authority is given to you by an organization. It allows you to sign checks, conduct performance reviews, and set schedules. It is external. Capacity is built by you. It is the internal fortitude to handle a crisis, the emotional intelligence to navigate burnout, and the resilience to keep going when the strategy fails.

When the pressure mounts, your title will not make decisions for you. Your values will.

The Empty Chair Test

I often ask leaders to visualize their office chair empty. If you strip away the title, the corner office, and the power to fire people—if you had absolutely no leverage over your team—would they still choose to follow you?

If the answer is "no," you are not leading; you are managing compliance.

Leading Without the Badge 

True self-leadership means acting as if the title doesn't exist. It means building trust, not because you have to be obeyed, but because you are worth following.

• Own your mistakes: A title tries to hide errors to preserve status. A leader owns them to preserve trust.
• Serve the team: Authority says, "You work for me." Leadership says, "I work to clear the path for you."

Call to Action

Stop polishing your title and start building your character. This week, identify one area where you have been relying on your rank to get things done ("Do it because I said so"). meaningful conversation instead.

For more on separating your identity from your title, read Chapter 2 of Dear Leader.