Leadership Is Not a Role, It's a Relationship

Leadership Is Not a Role, It's a Relationship

Beyond Titles and Offices

Leadership is often associated with position, job description, or office. But positions do not make leaders; people do. The granting of a leadership position in an organization may change the person who holds the authority, but it cannot ensure that the person will really inspire others. Leadership is not given by title or even by appointors, but it is earned daily through the quality of relationships a leader builds and sustains with people.

The Currency of Trust

Leadership is built on trust. Trust is not something that can be demanded; it is something that must be nurtured and developed. Leaders who inspire trust do not push, pull, or coerce. They lead followers who want to follow because they believe in the leader's integrity, competence, and concern for them. Trust makes leadership a relationship rather than a transaction and turns obligations into commitments that the people wish to develop.

Patience and Presence

True leadership takes time. Relationships are not built overnight, and leaders know that it takes time to develop people; that patience and presence are necessary. They listen carefully; they ask questions, they observe little things that others overlook. These leaders build consistency over time, demonstrating that their words and deeds are in harmony. This small yet powerful gesture shows genuine respect and reminds leaders that employees are people first, not just roles to be filled.

The Iron Fist Trap

In contrast, leaders who rely on their namesake are often tyrants who rule with a proverbial iron fist. They wield their positional authori