Jasmin Guthmann

We’ve all met them. The people who command respect the moment they walk into the room - not because of what’s printed on their business card, but because of how they show up.

During my career, I’ve seen “leaders” who couldn’t rally a team if their life depended on it, and people without a single stripe on their shoulder who could quietly turn chaos into clarity. Titles might open the door, but they don’t inspire followership - action does.

Why Titles Mislead

Titles are a convenient shorthand for where you sit in an organization’s hierarchy, but they rarely tell the whole story. A title can mask uncertainty, insecurity, or lack of vision. It can create an illusion of leadership that evaporates the moment the pressure is on.

I recall early in my career working on a complex transformation project. The person officially “in charge” struggled to make decisions, frequently deferred to others, and avoided conflict. In stark contrast, a colleague with no formal authority began stepping up - coordinating efforts, mediating disputes, and ensuring deadlines were met. By project end, the team looked to her as the true leader. The org chart might have said otherwise, but her actions spoke louder than any title ever could.

This experience taught me that leadership isn’t a position you hold; it’s a series of choices you make. And those choices ripple through teams, shaping trust, morale, and outcomes.

The Currency of Action

Leadership is often made of small moments that go unnoticed but add up over time. It’s not about grand gestures but about consistent behaviors that inspire confidence.

Think of the person who remains calm when the project hits a snag, who listens more than they speak, who asks the tough questions others shy away from. The one who, instead of blaming others when things go wrong, takes responsibility and looks for solutions.

In a world that often rewards visibility and volume, these quieter forms of leadership are easy to overlook. Yet they build a foundation no title can replace.

In fact, some of the most powerful leadership I’ve witnessed happened in situations without any official mandate. People stepped up simply because they cared enough to act, and the rest naturally followed.

Executive Presence, Reframed

We hear a lot about “executive presence” - but it’s often misunderstood. It’s not about how loudly you speak or how sharply you dress. Those are surface-level signals that might open doors but won’t sustain leadership.

Real executive presence is about consistency. It’s about showing up the same way on your best days and your worst. It’s about creating an environment where others feel seen, heard, and capable.

I once heard someone say executive presence is “the energy you bring into a room.” I agree - but it’s not the energy of dominating the spotlight; it’s the energy of making space for others, cutting through noise with clarity, and grounding the team when uncertainty looms.

How to Lead Without the Title

If you’re waiting for a promotion or formal recognition to lead, you might be waiting too long. Leadership is a choice you can make every day.

Here are three practical ways to lead from where you are:

1. Solve before you escalate. Instead of surfacing problems without ideas, bring options or propose next steps. This shows ownership and initiative.
2. Communicate for impact. Tailor your messages to your audience’s needs. Listen actively and respond with empathy. This builds trust and alignment.
3. Show up in the hard moments. Whether it’s a conflict, a missed deadline, or an unexpected crisis, be the person who steps in instead of stepping back.

Taking these steps doesn’t require a title, just intention and courage.

Why It Matters Now

The pace of change in business today is relentless. Teams face uncertainty and complexity daily. In this environment, people crave stability and trust - not in titles or hierarchy, but in those who consistently act with integrity and clarity.

I see this everywhere: from boardrooms steering digital transformation, to frontline teams navigating tight deadlines, to my own experience training for ultra marathons where pacing and endurance matter more than speed alone.

Leadership, in these moments, is about endurance - about staying steady, helping others keep pace, and showing up even when it’s tough. Those are the leaders people follow, regardless of the titles on their badges.

The Takeaway

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned - and that I unpack in If There Is a Will, There Is a Way - it’s this: You don’t need permission to lead.

You simply need to start acting like the leader you want to be.

So, next time you find yourself in a meeting, on a project, or facing a challenge, ask yourself: Who here leads by action, not title? Who do you trust to guide the way?

If you don’t see that person in the room - maybe it’s your turn.