We see it on our professional feeds every single day : an election result announced, a campus lead appointed, or a post thanking mentors for a new title.
There is real value in celebrating these milestones. Stepping into public roles takes courage, and ensuring projects execute smoothly requires genuine effort.
Structural roles exist for a good reason - they keep organizations moving forward.
However, looking deeper into these dynamics raises an essential question :
Are we training people to build real leadership, or are we simply encouraging them to collect labels?
The Soft Skill Trap
We routinely categorize leadership as a “soft skill,” but that phrasing carries a dangerous trap. It implies that leadership is either something you are born with or an abstract trait that automatically appears when a title is granted.
In reality, technical skills might get you into the room, but navigating human dynamics, creating team clarity, and supporting people through pressure can be among the hardest skills to master.
Leadership is not an innate gift or a badge. It is a disciplined practice.
The True Metric : Growing the People Around You
A title gives you structural authority to manage a process, delegate tasks, and pass along instructions. That operational management is necessary for coordination, but execution alone is not leadership.
The true metric of leadership comes down to one core principle :
Leadership is the intentional growth and development of the people around you.
If a team member isn't learning, gaining confidence, building capability, or becoming better at their craft because of your presence, you aren't necessarily leading them. You may simply be managing a workflow.
The Dual Engine : Visible Initiative & Behind-the-Scenes Support
High-performing teams require two distinct forms of leadership, depending on the situation:
• Visible Initiative : Stepping up under pressure, establishing direction, making tough decisions, and taking accountability when things go off track.
• Behind-the-Scenes Support - The “Hidden Leader”: Quietly doing the foundational work that empowers the entire team to succeed.
I’ve seen this dual engine play out firsthand during campus projects and collaborative group initiatives. While designated leads often focus on coordinating logistics, meaningful momentum can also come from team members quietly coaching a struggling peer through a complex workflow or stepping back so someone else can take the spotlight during a successful presentation.
Real human development often happens in this second space.
It means:
• Building Capability : Taking the extra time to help a peer understand a complex skill so they master it, rather than doing it yourself just to appear as the hero.
• Creating Stability : Being a calm, grounded anchor when tight deadlines and pressure threaten to create panic.
• Elevating Others : Deliberately stepping out of the spotlight so the people who did the heavy lifting receive the recognition they deserve.
The Roots and the Branches
Think of any team, club, or organization like a growing tree.
Public leadership - official titles, speeches, presentations, and announcements-represents the visible branches. They show the world where the organization is headed and give it direction.
Developmental leadership-quiet coaching, daily support, and skill-building-represents the root system beneath the surface.
Unseen and often uncelebrated, the roots do the heavy work of sustaining the entire structure.
Without strong roots focused on growing people, even the most impressive branches can struggle when the first real storm arrives.
Developing the Mindset
You do not need a formal selection, a shiny title, or an official appointment to demonstrate leadership today.
Leadership doesn't begin when an organization hands you a label.
It starts the moment you shift your focus away from accumulating personal status, take ownership of shared outcomes, and commit to growing the people sitting right next to you.
How do you balance visible initiative with behind-the-scenes support in your work or studies?
I’d love to read your perspective in the comments. ✨
