We’ve been told a lie: leadership is about titles. That if you climb high enough, people will finally listen. But let’s be real — nobody follows a job title. They follow influence.
Bill Campbell — the coach behind Google, Apple, and half of Silicon Valley — nailed it when he said: “Leadership is about recognizing there’s greatness in everyone, and your job is to create an environment where that greatness can emerge.” Notice what’s missing? Titles. Authority. Org charts. None of that matters. Influence doesn’t wait for permission.
And if you work in L&D, you know this better than anyone. You’re rarely the budget holder. You don’t “own” the projects. You’re not the executive sponsor. But you’re still expected to make learning happen. Which means influence isn’t optional. It’s the whole game.
Stop waiting for permission.
Too many people are sitting back, waiting for someone to anoint them a leader. That day isn’t coming.
Steve Jobs didn’t wait for permission to rethink personal computers. Phil Knight didn’t wait for permission to sell shoes out of his trunk. Richard Branson didn’t wait for permission to start an airline. Leaders don’t wait. They step in.
And so can you.
Or as Ted Lasso would say: “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.” You don’t need a title to step up, own your corner of the work, and do what’s right for your team.
The four levers of influence.
Think of this as your starter kit for leading without authority:
- Credibility. Master your craft. Know your stuff. Nothing builds influence faster than being the person who consistently brings expertise and clarity to the table.
- Relationships. Influence moves at the speed of trust. Build it. Every conversation, every connection. People follow who they trust, not who they’re told to.
- Outcomes. Results speak louder than arguments. Move the needle, show the data, and suddenly you have a seat at tables you weren’t invited to.
- Extreme ownership. Don’t waste time on what you can’t control. Own what you can. Share your point of view. Explain your reasoning. Model the mindset you want others to follow.
Pull these four levers consistently, and people will start looking to you — not because of a title, but because of influence.
Don’t count yourself out.
A career coach once told me something that changed everything: “Don’t let yourself be the reason you’re counted out.”
At the time, I was wrestling with insecurity and imposter syndrome. I thought I had to wait until I “deserved” a leadership role before I could show up as one. But here’s the truth: almost everyone is walking around with some level of imposter syndrome. Even the leaders you look up to. The difference? They didn’t let it stop them.
Forget what you think people believe about you. Stop letting imaginary critics make your decisions. Step into your authentic self. Be the example. Be the light others need to do the same. Influence starts there.
Why this matters in learning.
In our field, positional authority is rare. But that’s not an excuse. It’s an advantage. Because when you don’t have authority to fall back on, you learn to influence in ways that actually last: credibility, trust, outcomes, ownership.
Those are the muscles worth building. Not just for projects, not just for your career, but for the future of learning itself.
The takeaway.
Nobody’s going to tap you on the shoulder and tell you you’re a leader. Stop waiting for permission. Start where you are. Lead from whatever seat you’re in.
Because the truth is – titles don’t really matter. They were created to establish hierarchy and boundaries, both of which you have the power to transcend through your influence.
