Wait... Who Made You the Leader?

Let’s be honest. Not everyone with a big title knows how to lead. Some people get promoted, receive the shiny business cards, and then promptly forget how to make eye contact, return emails, or recognize that actual humans are part of their team.

At the same time, I’ve seen real leaders show up without any formal authority. They’re not the loudest in the room. They’re not even on the org chart in bold. But when a crisis hits or something important needs to happen, they are the ones everyone turns to. These are the people who step in, not because they were asked, but because they care.

That’s the thing. A job title doesn’t make you a leader. It just means you have a job title.

Leadership isn’t about having power over others. It’s about having the courage to act when it counts. It’s about noticing what needs to be done and doing it. It’s about caring deeply, even when nobody’s watching, and rallying people around a shared goal. That doesn’t require a title. It requires presence. Clarity. Audacity. Sometimes snacks, if you’re really smart about it.

The best leaders I’ve worked with were often the ones holding everything together quietly. They weren’t “the boss.” They were the connectors, the motivators, the glue.

And honestly, I think I’ve always known this.

Even as a kid, during summer breaks, I somehow became the neighborhood head of operations. I gathered all the kids, gave out responsibilities, had them teach each other, and by the end of the summer, we’d put on performances for our parents. Some of those parents were truly impressed. Some may have cried. Probably from joy. Possibly from relief. But I remember that feeling so clearly the joy of leading with heart, and the magic of building something together.

I wasn’t a leader because someone gave me permission. I was a leader because I couldn’t not lead. And if you’re wondering whether you’re the “kind” of person who can lead, you are. Because leadership comes in all forms.

Brene Brown Researcher. Storyteller. and Author of Dare to Lead, Podcaster of Dare to Lead Series

One of the people who helped me put words to what I’ve always believed is Brené Brown. Her work on daring leadership resonates deeply with me. She teaches that leadership isn’t about control, it’s about courage. It’s not about being the smartest or the most senior person in the room, it’s about being present, honest, and willing to go first, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Like Brené, I believe that vulnerability is not weakness but  it’s the birthplace of real connection and influence. Whether you’re leading a team, a meeting, or a moment, the ability to stay grounded and act with intention is what truly defines leadership.

“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” – Brené Brown A reminder I carry into every leadership conversation.

If you haven’t yet taken her free Daring Leadership Assessment, it’s a great starting point to explore the kind of leader you already are and the one you’re becoming.

So, here’s my reminder to you. You don’t have to wait. You don’t need to be promoted. You don’t need someone to hand you a crown and say “go ahead now, lead.” You can lead from wherever you are, with whatever you have, starting today.

Leadership shows up in all forms. Sometimes it looks like a confident speaker in a boardroom. Other times, it looks like a mom keeping calm in a chaotic moment. Or a colleague who speaks up when others go quiet. Or a kid organizing a backyard play and calling it a production.

However, it shows up in you, trust it.

You don’t need permission to lead. You just need the passion to begin.

Take the Daring Leadership assessment from this link and share with me your results!

https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/assessment/