Dear Deborah,

Thanks so much for sharing your insights. To your question as to whether a title matters: Titles can mean many things, both personally and professionally, and I would say that the value we ourselves place on the titles we have in our work can have a huge impact on how we see that work. A title can be:

-- An administrative identity that tells your colleagues where you are in an organization

-- A label that identifies a particular level of expertise you've reached

-- A label that communicates accomplishment; obstacles overcome; goals achieved.

However, the hardest lesson I've learned is that the connection between a title and actual leadership is not always easy to make. While a title can have a specific definition in an organization, and a particular title might imply leadership, maintaining a parallel between the two can be a daily challenge. Titles are generally static; leadership is fluid. The title itself, once given, is there in the background, but being a leader is a series of ongoing questions.

-- How do I see my title in terms of how I can best lead in this situation?

-- How do I define leadership right now in terms of my own values?

-- What can I do today to inspire, guide, and serve those I am leading?