A Job Title Alone Does Not Make You A Leader

Paul Umpleby
Mar 24
4 min read

Your team doesn’t follow you because of a job title on your email signature. I believe they follow you because of how you show up every day. I’ve learned that leadership is about actions, consistency, and impact.

When your team sees clarity, hears honesty, and feels supported, then they perform at their best. And that, in turn, brings out the best in you.

So, how do you create an environment where your team performs at their best? It starts with what they see, hear, and feel from you every day.

What Your Team Needs to See

Your actions set the tone for the team. If they see you act with focus and resilience, they’ll model that behaviour. If they see inconsistency, hesitation, or a lack of direction, that will affect their confidence and performance.

Set Clear Goals and Directions

Your team should always know what success looks like. A lack of clarity leads to wasted effort. Set measurable goals, outline clear expectations, and ensure that everyone understands the bigger picture.

Avoid vague instructions like “do your best.” Instead, say, “Our goal is to increase customer retention by 15% this quarter.”
Explain why their work matters. If people see the bigger purpose, they’ll be more invested.
Don’t assume your message has landed. Ask, “What’s your takeaway from this?” to confirm alignment.

Recover Quickly and Keep Going

Your team will take cues from how you respond to setbacks. If you dwell on failures or react emotionally, they will too. Instead, demonstrate a solution-oriented mindset.

Acknowledge issues without dwelling. “That didn’t go as planned. What can we learn from it?”
Refocus on the next step. “Here’s how we move forward.”
Keep morale up. Energy is infectious. If you stay steady and composed, your team will follow suit.

Adapt to New Challenges

Uncertainty can be a constant. Leaders who embrace change and adjust quickly based on insights build teams that do the same.

Model curiosity, not fear. Instead of saying, “This change is frustrating,” try, “How can we make this work for us?”
Encourage flexibility. Make adaptability part of your culture. “Let’s test this approach and refine it.”
Show you’re learning too. Admit when you don’t have all the answers. “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.”

Focus on Achieving Results

Effort matters, but results are what count. Leaders who prioritise meaningful outcomes, rather than just looking busy, create high-performing teams.

Measure what matters. Set clear performance metrics and track progress.
Celebrate progress, not just completion. Recognise steps forward to maintain motivation.
Keep people accountable. When people see you follow through, they’ll do the same.

What Your Team Needs to Hear

Your words shape how your team thinks and feels. The right messages at the right time can build trust, confidence, and motivation.

Explain Things Clearly and Simply

If your team constantly asks for clarification, it’s a sign your communication needs work.

Keep it simple. Avoid jargon. Say, “Let’s prioritise customer calls today,” rather than, “We need to maximise outbound client engagement.”
Use stories and examples. People remember narratives better than abstract concepts.
Check for clarity. Ask, “Does this make sense?” and adjust based on feedback.

Make Quick and Confident Decisions

If your team hears you second-guessing constantly, they’ll lose confidence in their own decisions.

Be decisive. Even when the choice is tough, commit to a path.
Explain your reasoning. “We’re doing this because…” builds buy-in.
Own your mistakes. If a decision was wrong, adjust and move forward.

Support Your Team’s Growth

People stay in jobs where they feel challenged and supported. If your team never hears encouragement or guidance from you, they’ll disengage.

Give constructive feedback. “Here’s what you did well, and here’s how you can improve.”
Recognise progress. “I’ve noticed your presentations are getting sharper.”
Encourage development. “What’s a skill you’d like to build next?”

Speak Honestly and Build Trust

If your team hears empty praise or sugar-coated messages, they’ll stop believing you. Trust comes from direct, honest communication.

Tell the truth, even when it’s tough. “This wasn’t our best work. Let’s figure out why.”
Avoid vague feedback. Be specific so people know what to improve.
Match words with actions. If you say something matters, back it up with action.

What Your Team Needs to Feel

People remember how you make them feel more than anything you say or do. A great leader creates an environment where people feel valued, confident, and motivated.

Make People Feel Heard and Valued

If your team feels ignored, they’ll disengage. Listening goes further than hearing the words. Your people need to feel understood.

Give full attention. Stop multitasking when someone speaks.
Acknowledge input. “That’s a great point, I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
Act on feedback. Show you take their opinions seriously.

Create a Positive, Calm Space

Stress is inevitable, but panic is optional. If your team feels constant pressure, they won’t perform at their best.

Stay composed under pressure. Your reaction sets the tone.
Encourage work-life balance. People who feel burnt out won’t do their best work.
Promote psychological safety. Make it okay to ask questions and make mistakes.

Inspire Others to Take Responsibility

Ownership leads to engagement. If your team feels they truly own their work, they’ll care more about the outcome.

Give autonomy. Let people make decisions within their role.
Hold people accountable. Follow up without micromanaging.
Trust your team. Show confidence in their abilities.

Make People Feel Confident Solving Problems

A leader’s job isn’t to solve every problem, it’s to build a team that can solve problems independently.

Ask, don’t tell. Instead of giving solutions, ask, “What do you think we should do?”
Recognise initiative. Celebrate when someone steps up.
Encourage calculated risk-taking. “Give it a try. If it doesn’t work, we’ll adjust.”

Leadership Is About Impact, Not Authority

If you bring out the best in your team, they’ll bring out the best in you. The greatest leaders show up in a way that earns trust, inspires action, and builds momentum. When your team sees your clarity, hears your honesty, and feels your support, that’s when great things happen.

So ask yourself: What does your team see, hear, and feel from you every day?