Robert, congratulations on the new chapter. One idea that stood out to me is your distinction between maintaining a title and doing the work the title was meant to enable. That's a question every leader should revisit periodically. Titles create authority, but they can also create an identity that's difficult to separate from the person behind the role. The true measure of leadership isn't whether influence disappears when the title does, it's whether people continue seeking your perspective because of the value you bring. In the end, positions are temporary, but the impact we have on developing others is what ultimately outlasts any title.
Robert, congratulations on the new chapter. One idea that stood out to me is your distinction between maintaining a title and doing the work the title was meant to enable. That's a question every leader should revisit periodically. Titles create authority, but they can also create an identity that's difficult to separate from the person behind the role. The true measure of leadership isn't whether influence disappears when the title does, it's whether people continue seeking your perspective because of the value you bring. In the end, positions are temporary, but the impact we have on developing others is what ultimately outlasts any title.
D.M., I appreciate how you named the distinction between access and value.
A title can create the opening, but people keep coming back for your perspective only when it has helped them think, decide, or grow.
That is the part I hope outlasts this chapter and creates a legacy.