The Enduring Power of the Leader Who Has No Title: A 15-Year Reflection

By: Angie Janko, COO, GSD Coach & Recruiting

On July 9, 2010, I finished reading Robin Sharma's insightful book, The Leader Who Had No Title. At the time, the observations resonated deeply. Now, 15 years later, as the world continues to evolve at a relentless pace, the principles outlined in those pages feel not just relevant, but essential for navigating our professional and personal lives.

This book isn't about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about leading from exactly where you are. Here are the core lessons from my notes that still hold true a decade and a half later:

1. The Human Element: Everyone Matters

Sharma reminds us that everyone matters and every person, regardless of their job title, is someone's son or daughter with a unique story. We must be masterful about understanding people. This concept ties into the Law of Reciprocity—touch their heart, and they will want to follow you.

• Actionable Takeaway: Before you judge a person's performance, take a moment to acknowledge their humanity. Real connection is the foundation of influence.

2. The Power of Intentionality and Vision

Nobody exceeds their wildest expectations without having wild expectations. This isn't about blind optimism; it's about focused, daily effort.

• The 5-Focus Rule: Everyday select five things that you want to focus on and do them. The math is simple and staggering: at the end of the year, you will have completed 2,000 things! This compounding effect proves that success is created through the performance of a few small daily disciplines that stack up over time.

3. Leading Where You Are Planted

The central thesis remains powerful: You don't have to have a title to be a leader. No role is a small role. We all need to lead where we are planted and shine where we now find ourselves.

• Mother Teresa's Wisdom: As Mother Teresa said, "If everyone would sweep their own doorstep, the whole world would be clean." Take care of fixing your own issues first before criticizing others. Leading by example is one of the most powerful tools for positively influencing change in people.

4. Embracing Discomfort and Uncertainty

Great leaders are not driven primarily by money, but by challenge (as demonstrated by Nile Kinnick). The key to growth is leaving the known behind:

• Expand Your Zone: The more time you spend outside your comfort zone, the wider you grow.
• Embracing Failure: It's okay to fail when outside your comfort zone. Learn from past failures and move forward.
• The Quiet Extra Mile: "It's truly quiet out on that extra mile." Leaders are those individuals who do the things others aren't willing to do, even if they don't like doing them either.

5. The Obsession with Growth and Service

Leaders are in a constant state of improvement, continually raising their bar.

• Mastery Takes Time: To "master" something, it takes approximately 10 years of devoted practice. Doing something small everyday is how you bridge that gap.
• The Survival Tactic: An obsessive and ongoing self-education is one of the greatest survival tactics to get through turbulent times.
• Radical Helpfulness: Commit to becoming the most radically helpful person you know. Potential unrealized turns to pain, so focus on action that serves others.

Still Relevant 15 Years Later

The world is chaotic, and uncertainty is a constant. Robin Sharma's guidance teaches us that the best response to turbulence is not to wait for a title or a boss to tell you what to do, but to lead with integrity, focus, and radical helpfulness right now.

Remember: Just because you haven't yet received the benefits of positive deeds done, it doesn't mean they're not coming. You always reap what you sow. In a gentle way, you can shape the world (Mahatma Gandhi).

Be content with your life, but never satisfied with your level of service or performance.

What is one small thing you will commit to doing this week to lead where you are planted? Share your thoughts below!

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