Leadership Isn’t a Title – It’s a Skill
And it’s time we started acting like it
There’s a curious thing that happens when someone steps into a leadership role for the first time. They often assume it’s an extension of the job they’ve always done—just with more responsibility, more meetings, and maybe a little more stress. But then, at some point, the realization dawns: leadership is an actual thing. It’s not just a title. It’s not a set of quick tips or personality traits. It’s a skill—one that requires practice, intention, and a whole lot of unlearning.
The Leadership Wake-Up Call
We’ve seen it happen time and time again. A seasoned professional, highly skilled in their craft, suddenly finds themselves in a leadership position and realizes, often with a mix of excitement and terror, that leadership is different. It’s a shift from being the one who does the work to being the one who enables others to do their best work.
One of our coaching clients put it perfectly: “I’m starting to realize that leadership is like… a thing. Like, you can actually get better at it.” This wasn’t a junior employee fresh out of school—this was someone who had been thriving in their career for years. And yet, the idea that leadership was a separate, learnable discipline was a revelation.
What Leadership Is Not
Leadership gets muddled by a lot of misconceptions. Let’s clear up a few:
- Leadership is not about personality assessments. Knowing your personality type (or someone else’s) can be helpful for self-awareness and teamwork, but it doesn’t make you a leader. There is no “leadership personality.” We’ve all seen introverts, extroverts, and every mix in between succeed—or fail—as leaders.
- Leadership is not a collection of tips, tricks, and acronyms. Sure, frameworks can be useful, but they don’t create leadership. You can’t “hack” your way into being a great leader. If you’re just memorizing tactics, you’ll eventually hit a wall. Leadership is about mindset, consistency, and how you think—not just what you do in the moment.
- Leadership is not just a title. Being promoted doesn’t magically grant leadership skills. The reverse is also true: people can lead without a fancy title. The real work of leadership happens in how you engage, develop, and support others—not in where your name sits on an org chart.
Leadership Is a Practice
We like to remind people: leadership is a skill, not a status. It’s about showing up intentionally every day, making choices that build trust, and recognizing that you’re in the people business—no matter what industry you’re in. The best leaders know this and work at it, continuously honing their ability to communicate, inspire, and develop those around them.
So, if you’re in a leadership role (or aspire to be), take a moment to let this sink in: leadership is a thing. And if you treat it like one—by practicing, learning, and growing—it will transform the way you lead, the way you work, and the way you impact those around you.
Now go out there and lead like it matters. Because it does.
Need Help Elevating Your Leadership?
At Slingshot25, we specialize in helping leaders at all levels develop the skills and mindset needed to lead with impact. Whether you’re new to leadership or looking to take your skills to the next level, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn how we can support you on your leadership journey!