Introduction
Robin Sharma’s “The Leader Who Had No Title” is a business fable that imparts leadership lessons through the journey of Blake Davis, a former soldier turned bookstore employee. Struggling to find purpose in civilian life, Blake’s job at the bookstore left him feeling unfulfilled. This sense of dissatisfaction bred a negative outlook that impacted both his work performance and personal relationships.
Blake’s journey takes a transformative turn when he encounters four mentors. Their wisdom becomes a catalyst for his growth, offering valuable lessons we can apply to our own lives.
Let’s explore these mentors and their teachings, discovering how their insights can help us become leaders in our everyday roles, regardless of our job titles or positions.
First Mentor – Tommy Flinn
You Need No Title to Be a Leader
The first chapter of the book introduces us to the core message of the book- leadership is not confined to those with formal titles. Robin Sharma emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their position, can exhibit good leadership qualities.
Tommy Flinn was on of the people Blake encounters in the story. He teaches Blake the valuable lessons about taking pride in one’s job, no matter what it is, and always striving for excellence. He emphasized on the fact that true leadership comes from within and is about making a positive impact on others, rather than holding a formal title.
Tommy speaks about how one can lead and inspire others regardless of their job titles or perceived status in an organization. The Bibles says in Colossians 3:23 that, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart”. “Walt Disney also ones said that, “Whatever you do, do it well” whether you are a cleaner or a Junior Staff, do not wait to assume a managerial role before you take initiatives and certain key responsibilities whether at work, at home, or in our communities. By embodying leadership, we inspire those around us and contribute positively, regardless of our official status.
Let me now explain how I want to incorporate this into my daily routine. Like Blake, I go to work, complete the tasks assigned to me, and then I wait for the next assignment. I’m doing this because I don’t want to take on any more job. Based on the lesson learnt from the book, the appropriate or ideal thing to do, is to be responsive, innovative and be a team player by taking on new responsibilities to ease the work of colleagues. It’s about pitching in, even if it’s not “my job,” and making life easier for everyone on the team.
Second Mentor – Anna
Turbulent Times Build Great Leaders
Anna is introduced as a maid at a high-end hotel. . Anna encapsulates the idea that turbulent times build great leaders. She said, “Remember, Blake, it’s not the calm and comfortable moments that define our leadership. It’s how we respond during the storms. True leaders are forged in the crucible of adversity, where they learn resilience, creativity, and the power to inspire others, no matter how challenging the circumstances.” Anna teaches Blake the importance of excelling at whatever one does. She emphasizes that by embracing excellence, maintaining high standards, and focusing on delivering outstanding work, one can lead by example and inspire others. Sharma recommends s that by investing our best efforts and creativity into our daily tasks, we can derive satisfaction and meaning. In practice, , we are expected to strive for excellence in our daily activities, whether it’s a mundane task or a complex project. This approach not only enhances our work quality but also cultivates a sense of personal pride and accomplishment
Personally, I know I am a calm person, but it was not obvious to me that I am patient too. I found myself in a working environment with a sort of negative, tense atmosphere. It was largely caused by the boss at that office. For some reason he did not like me. He would always find fault with me. Nothing I did was good enough for him. But I refused to be frustrated by him, I did not allow the darkness in him to cloud the light in me. I resolved to be respectful towards him and work very hard at my job. Looking back on that time in my life, I think that it was what helped me to grow in my patience with people and my diligence at work.
Third Mentor – Ty Boyd
The Deeper Your Relationships, The Stronger Your Leadership
Blake’s third mentor, a former ski champion named Ty Boyd, shares insights on resilience. Ty explains that overcoming adversity and building deep genuine relationships is crucial for leadership, Effective leaders connect with others on a personal level, fostering trust and cooperation. In our day-to-day interactions, this can mean taking the time to listen actively, show empathy, and support our colleagues, friends, and family members. Strong relationships enhance collaboration and create a supportive environment, essential for both personal and collective success. He encourages Blake to view challenges as opportunities for growth and to maintain a positive outlook even in tough times. He advises that, to maintain genuine relationships wherever we find ourselves we should not see the opinions of others as invalid. We should desist from looking down on others.
To put this lesson into practice, I’m going to start asking for feedback after every training session I lead. I’ll encourage both my colleagues and the participants to share their honest thoughts on how I did. This way, I can keep improving and really excel at my job.
Fourth Mentor – Jackson Chan
To Be a Great Leader, First Become a Great Person
The final mentor, Jackson Chan, a renowned gardener, highlights the importance of service. Jackson teaches Blake that leadership involves adding value to others’ lives. By being genuinely helpful and putting others first, one can create lasting influence and foster strong relationships. Jackson emphasizes that true leaders continuously seek to improve themselves and their work environment by embracing change, fostering creativity, and always looking for ways to do things better. Let’s learn to adopt a proactive mindset, welcoming challenges as opportunities for growth. Learn to innovate within our roles, no matter how small, and strive to add value to our work and relationships. This involves commitment to personal development, staying open to new ideas, and encouraging others to think creatively and embrace positive changes.
How can I make a real difference in people’s lives? I believe promoting STEM education, especially in a developing country like Ghana, is a powerful way to do just that. By introducing kids to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math early, I will be offering them future opportunities in these areas. The ripple effect will be that, these young minds could grow up to solve local problems, drive innovation, and even transform our country or become global icons.
Conclusion
The character Blake, in the Book, “The Leader who had no Title” is a true reflection of me. What stood out for me is summarized in this quote, “You reach your last day with the awareness that you ended up living the life society trained you to want versus leading the life you truly wanted to have”. That is not how I want my story to end. I want to die knowing that I lived a fulfilled life doing what a really wanted to do and not simply what society expect from me.
Robin Sharma’s book, “The Leader Who Had No Title” provides a blueprint for integrating leadership into our daily lives, irrespective of our job titles or social positions, our age, faith, family we belong to nor the country we come from. By approaching our work with passion, fostering deep relationships with other, focusing on personal growth, and consistently being intentional about being a good leader, , we can enhance our personal fulfillment and contribute meaningfully to the world around us.
By: Augustina Osorade
