Your Title Is Not Your Purpose!

When you ask somebody what he or she does for a living, they will most likely tell you what their title is on their business card. VP of Sales, Service Manager, Human Resources Business Partner, Physical Therapist, Business Coach. What do all of those titles really mean? And more importantly how does it describe what these people do and why they do it? Ya got me. 

And what the heck is an actuary? I gotta go to Wikipedia to figure that one out.

See, here’s the thing. Your title doesn’t represent your purpose in business. The beliefs behind what winning looks like for you, your team and your customers are what drives your purpose.

And, let me be the first to break it to ya – you do not impress anyone with your title. The only title I ever saw that made me stop and think was that of a woman at Southwest Airlines – Culture Queen. Yep – pretty much sums it up. I know exactly what her purpose is at Southwest.

But beyond that, call yourself whatever you want. Your beliefs and your behaviors and the messages sent by your actions are what define you. THAT is what you do for a living.

When I first started my job as Plant Manager at a factory in Westminster, Colorado, I thought I was hot stuff. “Lookout everybody, the Plant Manager is in da house!” I thought I held the ultimate power. But on my first day of work, the HR administrative assistant walked into my office and handed me a watering can with a smile. She told me it was my responsibility to make sure none of the plants died. Hmmm, I get it – plant manager. Real funny. But a great reality check.

Title doesn’t mean much. How you treat others, the behaviors you inspire and the results those behaviors provide is your purpose. 

I wasn’t a plant manager. I was a servant leader who helped create a culture of significance so that the dedicated employees could serve our customers and each other in the best way possible. 

That’s what should have been on my business card…

Find your purpose as a leader and then let your actions do all of your talking.

Go Ahead, Dare to be Amazing!