Titles

I understand why people don't love titles (i.e., VP, Captain, C-Suite, etc.).

Titles don’t make us who we are, and titles can unnecessarily create barriers. I’ve worked with many organizations who pride themselves on not leveraging titles, seeing them as overly “corporate.”

We hear phrases like, “we want all of our players to be captains” or “we have a flat culture where we want people to do their job regardless of a title.” The intention is solid. Far too many think a title makes or breaks them and signals an arrival of sorts.

However, a lack of titles can also create clutter and a lack of ownership of roles and responsibilities.

Title-less organizations can feel rudderless, whereas titles often help create clarity on roles and responsibilities, both internally and externally.

We need not be afraid of them.

Here’s the reality, titles impact leadership and leadership requires accountability. It’s hard to have accountability when nobody knows where the buck stops.

Titles don't equal respect or trust; those have to be earned (regardless of title). And just because our title says "x" doesn't mean our job is simply what’s in the title.

We all have to carry water beyond a title. Simply put, titles are the compass, not the map. Let’s embrace them.