Redefining Leadership: Part 3 (Not All Leaders Wear Titles)

From a young age, I noticed something about the people in authority around me. Many of them talked a lot, pushed their opinions, and were eager to make things happen their way. And honestly? That kind of leadership turned me off. If that’s what being a leader meant, I didn’t want any part of it.

But over time, I met people—especially in my church—who weren’t loud, weren’t in official positions of authority, but who carried deep respect. When they spoke, people listened. When they offered advice, it landed. These people weren’t “leaders” by the world’s standards, but they had real influence.

That was a pivotal realization: leadership isn’t about volume. It’s about trust. It’s not about having the spotlight—it’s about the kind of person you are when nobody’s looking.

From Institutions to People

Many people think leadership means holding institutional authority. If you’re a leader, then you must lead a company, a ministry, or a government office. And yes, those roles carry leadership responsibilities—but that’s not the only way to lead.

In fact, some of the most meaningful leadership happens outside of institutions. The example of Jesus makes this clear. He had ultimate authority, yet He spent most of His ministry walking with ordinary people, mentoring them, serving them, and building relationships that would change the world.

True leadership is people-focused, not institution-focused.

Influence Flows in Both Directions

This isn’t just about how we influence others—it’s also about how we allow ourselves to be influenced. We need to seek out mentorship, discipleship, and guidance. We’re not meant to lead in isolation. The most effective leaders are also humble learners.

We often talk about the importance of intergenerational relationships in church and community. You don’t need to be decades older to disciple someone, but there’s real value in wisdom, experience, and mutual investment. Whether you’re pouring into someone else or seeking to be poured into, it’s all part of the same calling to steward influence faithfully.

The Eternal Stakes of Leadership

Leadership isn’t about climbing a ladder—it’s about stewarding influence in light of eternity. It’s easy to get swept up in institutional goals and justify compromising your values “for the greater good.” But Scripture reminds us: you’ve never met a mere mortal. Every person you interact with has eternal value.

We often sacrifice people to preserve reputations, protect organizations, or push agendas. But that’s never the right answer. No institution—no matter how big—is more important than the individuals it serves.

C.S. Lewis said that civilizations, compared to human souls, are like the life of a gnat. Institutions pass away. People don’t. That perspective shatters the illusion that serving the system is more important than serving the person in front of you.

Influence Through Your Work

This doesn’t mean your work doesn’t matter. Quite the opposite. Your work becomes a tool for influence when you approach it with the right mindset. Building a website? That’s not just a project—it’s an act of service to your team, your audience, your clients. Every task becomes meaningful when it’s done with people in mind.

Work and family aren’t enemies. You don’t have to choose between serving one and neglecting the other. The goal isn’t to do less—it’s to do everything with clarity, purpose, and alignment. Work is valuable because people are valuable.

When we remember that the people we serve are eternal, our daily decisions gain eternal weight.

It’s Not Either-Or—It’s All for People

At Unbound, our mission isn’t to build an impressive institution. Our mission is to empower students to live lives of intentional influence—through their relationships, their projects, and their faith. The Ascend program gives them opportunities to practice this, including at Capstone, our final live event of the year. There, we train students to lead with hope. To embrace responsibility. To recognize their influence. And to steward it deliberately, wherever God has placed them.

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