Day in and day out, we address people of rank who answer to various honorific titles such as general, colonel, judge, doctor, attorney, engineer, mayor, congressman, kapitan, and so on.
Nothing wrong with that. It’s a given in life. My problem with titles is that it is now synonymous with enjoying a set of special privileges, which can be abused by any corruptible or immature person placed in a position of rank.
Many titled individuals believe they deserve automatic respect, privileges or recognition for things that they sometimes did not earn or they don’t deserve. That’s when the sense of entitlement becomes unhealthy.
While I have to admit that “privilege” and “entitlement” have uses that go alongside the position, they can also be wielded in ways that hurt, intentionally or not. I’ve seen it happen many times. A certain public relations man once lost a major account because the news release he put out to the publications got the position title of an important person wrong. One letter “S” was missing from VP.
People can change because of a title. A sense of entitlement creeps into the person who suddenly possesses certain power over other people. Suddenly the title of his position becomes a powerful wand in his hands. Worse, his position lets him enjoy a set of perks and privileges that can be intoxicating to an immature person.
There once was a film director who was involved in a video production project that I was a part of. His portfolio included awards for some commercials and videos he made and probably because of these awards, he began to up his talent fee and tacked a list of conditions and privileges on his contract. For one thing, he specifically wanted to be fetched by an SUV, not a utility vehicle, from his condo located far south of Manila and brought back every time there’s an activity related to the production. During production, he wanted a specially prepared lunch in a separate table and would sit only together with the Executive Producer, client or staff of his choice.
He would bark orders in a loud angry voice while shooting, keeping the crew always on edge, some of whom mouthed expletives in a low voice behind his back. Soon the said project bogged down because of the “uncooperative” crew and technical problems, which mysteriously cropped up in the middle of the shoot. To make the long story short, the director eventually got sacked and replaced.
I later on learned from friends that “Direk” wasn’t like that before. As a production assistant, he used to ride the jeepney and would eat packed lunches with the crew during shoots. He was ka-barkada. What caused the change? The awards? The title of “Direk”?
But sometimes a title can bestow an illusionary sense of importance even to those who don’t deserve it. I know of another person who loves to be called “Direk” even if he does not actually know how to direct. But he is a slick talker and entertainer. Talents gravitate towards him because of his title. Yet people close to him know that he is a “fake.” He has a superficial understanding of scripts and storyboards he is supposed to bring to life. During shoot, his cinematographer would do all the lighting and blocking arrangements. As his scriptwriter, I would sit beside him and tell him if the take is good or bad and he would then bark “good take” or “let’s do it again.” The funny thing is he knows his limitations. He just loves the title, as well as the built-in appeal and privileges that go with it, and most of all, the deference shown to him by anyone mesmerized by the glamor of film production. I wonder when his masquerade will last.
That’s the degree of obsessive and exaggerated sense of self-importance a title can give an individual. Together with it is the focus on the power and its trappings and privileges that a title brings.
The truth is a title brings with it the duties and responsibilities of leadership. This is what certain individuals who get appointed or elected to a position of rank begin to forget, overlook or neglect.
In fact, the paradigm of leadership is now changing. It is no longer about titles, least of all entitlements and perks. It is not even just about barking orders.
I once heard a term called “leadership without a title.” That captures the essence of what true leadership is. The goal is to get others to willingly cooperate and engage, rather than following directives because you’re the boss. In fact, don’t try to be a boss. Instead, be a catalyst. For a real leader has a sense that we are all in this together, but we simply have different roles.
This is what American President John Quincy Adams had in mind when he said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
Think about this. Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi never gave themselves fancy sounding titles, and never demanded special entitlements, yet they are now revered as great leaders.
This is why I am utterly disappointed by young graduates who want to start at the top, and be a boss immediately. They fail to realize that one needs to earn the title first, by starting from the bottom.
Fancy titles do not necessarily make you a leader. It’s the other way around: an authentic leader makes the title he deserves.
There are people who are “humble of heart” silently doing their tasks with passion and enthusiasm. They know that their roles are important to the success of the team.
In contrast, nothing fosters distrust and demoralization more than an uncaring, self-absorbed boss who only cares about his image and his sense of entitlement and who views his people as nothing more than a tool to get something done. These petty executives in lofty positions divide rather than unite the people under them.
I am sure that somewhere in your workplace, or in your organization or establishment there must be someone or individuals who are taking action to initiate meaningful change in the way things are done. They lead just by doing their task as best as they can. They help move the job forward. They make a difference in their own quiet way. Many times these unsung heroes are overlooked because they don’t possess the necessary title that is used to describe a leader in a traditional sense. In fact, the credit for their work sometimes goes to their titled superiors.
Invest in such individuals wherever you find them. They not only make the best spouses, teammates, colleagues or friends, they also make the most effective leaders, with or without titles and special privileges.