We’ve all met the leader who has the title but not the trust. They can move a calendar, but they can’t move a room.

On the other hand, I’ve seen people with no title at all who shaped culture just by the way they lived and led.

Did you catch that? Influence is greater than title.

When I stepped into leadership at United Way, and later when I transitioned into banking, I didn’t have all the credentials or domain knowledge. What I had was the willingness to learn, the courage to act, and the faith to trust that influence would follow consistency. That’s the heartbeat of the 3R Model, Reframe, Reclaim, Rename.

1. Reframe Your Thinking

Many leaders confuse authority with influence. They think the role gives them power. But real influence is earned, in how you listen, how you invest in people, and how you cast vision.

When I became CEO at United Way, I had to reframe my own thinking. I wasn’t just responsible for fundraising targets or program metrics, I was responsible for shaping how people believed in our mission.

Later, when I stepped into banking, I remember my first meeting with the regulators. I was surrounded by experts, them, and a few of our own bankers who joined me. They spoke in technical terms I didn’t know, language that would come up again and again as I engaged with our team.

I could have faked it, but I didn’t. I didn’t pretend. Instead, I leaned into what I could grasp, by listening carefully and asking the right questions. And here’s the truth: that’s how trust was built. Not by acting like I knew everything, but by being real enough to learn.

Your Move:
Ask yourself, “Am I leading with my title, or with my example?”

Scripture says:

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (Matthew 20:26). Influence starts with service, not position.

2. Reclaim Your Personal Agency

I’ve been asked countless times, “How did you succeed in spaces where you didn’t have traditional expertise?” The answer is simple: I refused to wait for permission to lead.

At United Way, I studied the work, asked questions, and acted decisively. In banking, I did the same. I wasn’t a lazy learner, and I didn’t let the limits of my knowledge dictate the scope of my leadership.

Leadership is about owning what you can control, your preparation, your character, your consistency.

Your Move:

Take one step this week to lead beyond your job description.
Encourage someone. Propose an idea. Model the behavior you want to see.

Scripture says:

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you.” (1 Timothy 4:14). Agency means putting your gift to work, not waiting for validation.

3. Rename Your Social Networks

Influence grows or shrinks depending on who you surround yourself with.

I had a friend once, we spent a lot of time together, but I realized he wasn’t trying to grow. If I kept him as close as before, I would have absorbed his limitations. Quietly, I pulled back. He got the message. That decision freed me to spend more time with people who stretched me, people who were building influence, not just holding titles.

Your Move:

Audit your circle. Who challenges you to lead with courage?

Who’s content with comfort? Choose to walk with those who push you toward growth.

Scripture says:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17).

The Bottom Line

Leadership isn’t about the corner office or the title on your email signature. Titles fade. Influence lasts.

Reframe your thinking. Reclaim your agency. Rename your networks.
That’s how you lead with influence, not just title.