A Leader without Title

I once shared the stage with a man named Robin Sharma.  I gave a speech to Shred-it International and was pleased that my speech was ranked 1st amongst the speakers for that particular international conference.  However, I won the battle and not the war. 

Robin Sharma has gone on to have a very successful career in the  Leadership Development consulting business.  He is the globally celebrated author of 11 international bestselling books on leadership including The Leader Who Had No Title, the phenomenal #1 blockbuster that is inspiring a movement around the idea that “Now, anyone - in any organization - can show Leadership”. His work has been published in over 60 countries and in nearly 70 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which has topped international bestseller lists and sold millions of copies. Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a global consultancy that helps people in organizations Lead Without a Title. Clients comprise many FORTUNE 500 companies including Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx and IBM. Organizations such as NASA, IMD Business School, Yale University and The Young President's Organization are also SLI clients. Robin is a former litigation lawyer who holds two law degrees including a Masters of Law (Dalhousie Law School).

Robin's Leading Without Title philosophy so inspired me that my business cards have the letters L.W.T. where I am supposed to have my title.  I love the concept of leading without a title.  It's Nike's version of Just Do It but without the fanfare and recognition that we so often crave. 

I kid myself often and say that I don't need recognition.  But in reality I do.  I like people to know that I am doing a good job.  I like them to know that I am putting in the effort to make things happen.  So, while I agree with this concept, it is hard for me to really live by.  I put ten times the energy into being “publicly good” than I do into being “privately good.” But hopefully through my awareness something in me is starting to change.

Maybe I am more aware simply because of my age. I am afraid that much of my young adult years were spent on projecting an image rather than establishing true character.  My BMW, nice suits, and large incredible homes did not build my character.  The truth is we all want to be perceived as hard-working, good people because those are the people who get respect and a way of showing others that you are hard-working and good is to have the toys.  But being a hard-working, good person is, well, hard work. And the true rewards come to those who establish that kind of character for real and are willing to do whatever it takes to lead with no title and to do the right thing without needing to be recognized.

I wonder how much time we spend talking about a cause vs working on behalf of a cause like politics, or abortion, or helping the homeless? How much time do we spend talking up our marriages vs loving our spouse? How much time do we spend talking about theology vs doing our theology? These are all questions I’m pondering, questions that might help me become “a leader without title”.  Hopefully questions that might help me build true character.

Hopefully, you will ask the same questions of yourself.