The Non-Entitled Leader
The Leader Without the Leader Title
The Making of a Leader – Part 3
Leaders are people who can make things multiple.
I refer to this type of employee as an exceptional individual who doesn’t realize they are a leader, even though they possess every characteristic and engage in all the activities that define effective leadership. I call this person a non-entitled leader. In fact, I believe these individuals often make better leaders because:
1. They are in leadership roles without recognizing it.
2. They aren’t spoiled or contaminated by titles; instead, they actively engage in the behaviors that exemplify leadership.
Leaders are people who can make things multiply. This concept is represented in the story of the talents, the parable told by Jesus. Leaders are individuals who make things grow and multiply. When you become a multiplier, you step out of average, ordinary results that most people have and into exceptional standards and performance.
Let me clarify my point. I want to outline the qualities that define a non-entitled, exceptional leader—someone who demonstrates leadership without necessarily holding an official title. In this discussion, I will focus on five key attributes of leadership without a title, as illustrated in the parable of the talents.
- Be the person who is selected for more.
Be the person who is chosen for greater opportunities.
In the story of the talents, each servant was chosen for more. They were selected for greater responsibilities. The master needed someone to manage his business affairs (his money, his gifts, his talents, his responsibilities) while he was away. He devised a solution: to leave the responsibilities to his employees. He called together his three employees and entrusted them with the talents that represented responsibilities, but he did not distribute them equally. One servant received more than the others, while another received more than the last. This distinction is quite interesting.
The master chose who would receive more (more talents, more skills, more responsibilities, more money). Therefore, it’s vital to position yourself as the person selected for more. This might seem counterintuitive because many people prefer to take on less. They often seek the path of least resistance and are not inclined to accept additional responsibilities. In other words, the normal person wants to do less and is not looking to do more. However, this mindset disqualifies them from leadership. A person who decides they don’t want to do any more has been excluded from leadership. - Handle your talents well.
Handle the responsibilities that you already have well.
Handle the resources you already possess effectively. Make the most of your skills, your gifts, and everything else you have. This means learning how to multiply what is already in your possession. The average person waits for someone else to provide them with something before they decide to take action and multiply it. In other words, they want to be pushed to become multipliers. But that’s not what a leader is. A leader operates with what they currently have and multiplies it.
You may have heard the saying, particularly in the Christian community, that we should “leave things better than we found them.” This is a guiding principle in life. A leader takes on their responsibilities, skills, and assignments with the intention of improving whatever they encounter—whether it’s people, situations, projects, or the office. A leader strives to leave everything better than they found it, and that is what marks a leader.
Furthermore, my grandmother used to call people who take without giving back “moochers.” This slang term refers to those who prefer to receive rather than contribute. Sadly, most people tend to have their hands out, waiting for someone else to do everything for them or to pave their way. However, the opposite of what a leader is. A leader is not a moocher; they are a giver. A moocher exploits the generosity and leadership of others. When you find yourself with your hand out towards somebody, that person that you’re pointing to is the making of a leader. You should desire to be on the other side of that, in a position where they look to you for guidance and support.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive (to mooch).” [1] Embrace that idea: it is more favorable to be a giver—a leader—than to be a moocher who refuses to be a leader. The individual with the ability to multiply resources is what you want to aspire to be; this is the desire of a true leader. You want to be the multiplier so that some moocher will have their hands tilted, pointed, and turned towards you. On the contrary, the average person prefers to be on the receiving end, but this is not the making of a leader. - Don’t be surprised at the reward of being given more.
A leader is one who is in it for more.
I like that phrase. If you aspire to be a leader and are on that journey, don’t be surprised by the rewards that come from multiplying your skills, talents, assignments, and gifts. The idea of multiplying excites people; it doesn’t just mean growth but improvement. So, don’t be shocked by the resulting reward. In this case, that reward would be you are given more (more talents, more responsibilities, more resources). Listen to that. Now, that sounds negative to the average person, who does not want more responsibilities. The average person doesn’t want any more accountability and doesn’t want to do more, learn more, or achieve more. The average person would instead stop right where they are. However, such a mindset disqualifies a person from leadership.
A true leader is someone who actively seeks more. This “more” signifies moving to the next level. A leader is someone who elevates everything they possess—be it resources, money, talents, skills, assignments, jobs, or titles—to the next level. A leader embraces the pursuit of more, always striving for advancement. A leader is one who is in it for more. - Don’t avoid more opportunities.
See the opportunities as “more” being presented to you.
It’s essential to embrace the opportunities that come your way, as it will set you up for the reward for even more. I believe in making the most of every opportunity that arises. [2] When an opportunity presents itself, my goal is to transform it into something more—more growth, more creativity, and ultimately, more value for the person who offered me that opportunity.
When I prepare to speak or engage with someone, especially when invited to give a lecture or talk, I always start by asking the person who invited me what they want me to share. I assure them that I will deliver more than they expect. I am not merely going to show up; I will be fully prepared. My aim is that the outcome of my talk is “more”—more for me and, more importantly, more for the person who invited me. I want to represent them well and ensure that others see their suggestion of having me speak as valuable because I have exceeded expectations. - Be a burden remover.
A leader without the leadership title is a burden remover [3], a problem solver.
In this parable of the talents, the two leaders—the five-talent servant and the two-talent servant—produced more. They doubled their results, made the master look good, contributed to the growth of the business, and brought about positive change. By their actions, they removed the burden from the master, becoming assets rather than liabilities. In contrast, the one-talent servant buried his talent and did nothing with it. He became a burden to the master, representing the average and ordinary person, just like a leader in title only, who chooses not to step up as a leader.
A person who removes burdens simply means you’ll be a problem solver. In corporate America, we often say that your goal should be to solve problems. Consider what problems you are solving simply by being present. What benefit do you provide to your organization, your supervisor, your committee, your school, your assignments, your role, your team, your friends, your family, your spouse, your children, or your siblings? This is what you need to focus on: how to be a leader who alleviates burdens.
I like to express it this way: as a leader, I strive to destroy the yolks that bind others. What actions do you take to remove obstacles? It is said, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, fulfill the law of Christ.” [3] If you aspire to follow the example of a next-level leader like Jesus—the high-road leader—you should aim to be skilled at sharing in others’ burdens.
This means you should not shy away from the opportunity to do more for others, to alleviate their burdens, remove their yolks, and make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Being a leader without a title involves having the motivation, capability, determination, and desire to strive for greatness in helping others.
[1] Acts of the Apostles 20:35 NLT, Bible.com, accessed April 4, 2025, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/ACT.20.35.NLT
[2] Colossians 4:5 NLT, Bible.com, accessed April 4, 2025, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/COL.4.5.NLT
[3] Galatians 6:2 NLT, Bible.com, accessed April 4, 2025, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/GAL.6.2.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
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