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A 'BOSS' HAS TITLE; A 'LEADER' HAS PEOPLE!
A 'BOSS' HAS TITLE; A 'LEADER' HAS PEOPLE!

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Being a Leader Doesn’t Require a Title; Having a Title Doesn’t Make You One

One of my favourite quotes comes from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “Being a leader is like being a lady. If you have to remind people you are, you aren’t.” It reinforces a powerful truth: leadership isn’t about titles, photo ops, or posturing. True leadership is rooted in authenticity, standing up for your principles—even (and especially) in the face of strong opposition.

Sadly, much of today's discourse on leadership often focuses on its peripherals—what it looks like, what it “should” be—rather than its essence. Most leadership development programs teach people what to do, what to think, and how to achieve external outcomes, but they rarely delve into the nature of leadership itself. They focus on strategies, not on building the character needed to execute those strategies effectively. As a result, we see superficial, short-term results. Under stress, old patterns typically resurface.

Leadership definitions often externalize the concept, focusing on things like vision, creativity, charisma, judgment, or presence—qualities that are important but don’t speak to the heart of leadership. At the organizational level, success is frequently measured by external markers—revenue, profit, market share, and so on. These metrics have their place, but they only answer part of the question. The more important questions are: What produces these results? And What sustains them?

The answer to the first question is leadership. The answer to the second is great leadership—the kind that is authentic and rooted in integrity.

Authenticity: The Core of Leadership

Great leaders don’t try to emulate others. If you try to lead like Jack Welch, Richard Branson, or Michael Dell, you’ll fail. People can sense when a leader isn't invested in their own leadership behaviors. In today’s turbulent world, people crave authenticity. We’re disillusioned with polished, fake personas that lack substance. We want leaders who are “real.” Authentic leadership is rooted in honesty—honesty about putting the needs of others ahead of your own, about communicating openly (both good and bad news), and about embracing differing viewpoints. It’s about self-awareness, self-reflection, empathy, and providing genuine feedback. It’s aligning your actions with your values. This is integrity.

Clarity: The Guiding Principle

Authentic leadership also demands clarity. Clarity in what you stand for—and what you will not stand for. Clarity in navigating the sea of choices by holding fast to your “True North,” the values that keep you grounded and on track even when distractions arise.

As leaders, we must ask ourselves tough questions. There’s a story from pre-Revolutionary Russia that illustrates this. A priest was confronted by a soldier, who pointed his rifle at him and asked, “Who are you? Where are you going? Why are you going there?” The priest calmly replied, “How much do they pay you?” Surprised, the soldier answered, “Twenty-five kopecks a month.” After a pause, the priest said, “I have a proposal for you. I’ll pay you 50 kopecks a month if you stop me every day and ask me those same three questions.”

While we may not face such direct interrogations, we can ask ourselves these tough questions daily. We can issue our own self-challenges, not just to do better, but to be better.

The Struggle for Authenticity

It’s funny that something so fundamental—being yourself—becomes harder as you gain more responsibility. But the truth is, authentic leadership must be consciously cultivated. There are many examples of how others lead, but there are few examples of what’s authentic to you until you discover it yourself. So, you must search for it.

For me, I create touchpoints to remind myself of who I am and where my strengths lie. When I speak or give talks, I often start with a personal story because telling it forces me to be authentic. When I don’t have all the answers, I make it clear to my team. Authenticity means acknowledging when you don’t have it all figured out and allowing yourself to be human.

Authenticity also requires self-reliance and leading by example. It's about demonstrating through your actions that you practice the same values and behaviors you expect from your team. Authenticity is a leadership skill—like any skill, it can be developed or weakened over time, depending on your conscious effort.

Conclusion: Lead with Authenticity

Ultimately, authenticity is at the core of leadership. It’s a skill that can be honed, but it requires focus, self-awareness, and the intention to remain true to who you are. Remember: A boss has the title; a leader has people. Leadership is about inspiring others to follow, not because of a title, but because of who you are and how you lead.

 

Kriti Makhija

Chief Financial and Compliance Officer, Burson Group India

Advisory Board Member, Nasscom Community

Views expressed are personal


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Kriti Makhija
Chief Financial and Compliance Officer

Chief Financial & Compliance Officer, Genesis BCW. Advisor NASSCOM Community. Partner & Mentor Shakti- The Empathy Project. Secretary Rotary Club of Delhi South (RCDS). Member, Leprosy Control Committee RCDS.

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