I think one of my least favorite words in business is “leadership.” It’s misused by overly ambitious people, bad bosses, and senior management who really aren’t in touch with their people. Contrary to its popular usage, leadership doesn’t have anything to do with your status or rank in an organization – or life. You can display leadership in small communities, within your home, online when speaking to your audience, or just when interacting with others. Let’s dig in a little more here.

Leadership Shouldn’t Be An Assumption

It’s assumed that when someone climbs to the top ranks of a company that they’re in leadership. Just because someone has people working under them, though, doesn’t mean they’re actually a leader. Likewise, leadership doesn’t have anything to do with titles.

A true leader is someone who is independent of a title. Yes, C-Suite people in many companies banter the word “leadership” around as if it’s a catch-all noun to describe anyone in a decision-making role. But there are plenty of ways to be a leader inside a company that have nothing to do with what your title may be. Leadership also doesn’t exist only within a corporation – we see incredible leaders all the time working for a better world, heading up non-profits, challenging norms, educating others, and standing up for what’s right…some without receiving a paycheck in return.

Leadership Isn’t “My Way or the Highway”

Too many times, people wanting to be leaders think that the best way to do it is to “toughen” their people up. They think leadership is synonymous with a take-charge attitude and the forceful vibes that tell their people, “Look, if you don’t do it, I’ll just get someone else.” While it may be effective for a while, managers who try to lead this way will soon find themselves with resentful team members or a horrible turnover rate in employees.

Similarly, you don’t have to be a super-extrovert to lead others. Some of the best leaders in the world are quiet, thoughtful, and allow their people to shine in their own ways. Don’t feel like you have to be showy to be a leader. Sometimes, the smallest acts make the biggest impacts on others because they’re small.

Management Doesn’t Make You a Leader

Management is a title. It identifies your role in a company. It also helps dictate your pay scale. It does not, in any way, suggest that you are a leader. One of my best managers was my senior editor, Lindsey, who hired me at a publishing company over a decade ago. I adore this woman and still maintain a friendship with her to this day. She is thoughtful; she is funny. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff. She knows when to step in and help direct her team and when to wait and see what they do. I grew SO much while working with Lindsey, and her solid leadership is to thank for that. Sure, she was also my manager and she did both with finesse.

A Leader Inspires

A leader is a person who inspires innovation, creativity, self-improvement, and self-expression. Good leaders leave their ego at the door. Great leaders lift their team or community up, and help them become better at what they do. I compare great leaders to great coaches. Eventually, we’ll outgrow our great leaders – like our great coaches – because leadership is all about looking forward and progressing. And hopefully, leaders are creating more leaders.

Leaders aren’t concerned so much with adhering to the rules. This is one of the best things about them! No matter what they’re working for, leaders challenge us to think outside the box, consider differing opinions, and step outside our comfort zones.

Who are your favorite leaders?