The Reluctance of Owning a Title

For years, I hesitated to call myself a photographer. The title felt too heavy with responsibility. I’d downplay it, waiting for something to make me feel like a photographer, even though others already saw me as one.

I've come to the realization that leadership in retail is the same. I’ve seen people manage teams and solve problems, yet they shrug it off by saying “I’m just a manager", or "I just oversee the floor" or something to that effect. But leadership isn’t granted with a promotion; it happens more through the doing, guiding teams through challenges.

We often believe leadership comes from “higher up,” so we minimize our roles. Yet your team sees you as a leader before you do. They learn from your calm during stress and how you handle tough situations. Leadership is found in small, everyday moments that you won't often recognized unless you have someone to remind you it. For me that person has always been Alejandra Mesa .

In retail’s fast pace, leadership is built through daily interactions, whether chaotic or routine. It’s about being present and consistent and being ok that you won't know everything but that you at least have the initiative to find the answer.

When I finally accepted the title of photographer, nothing changed in my work, but something shifted in me. Leadership is the same. You don’t need all the answers, just the willingness to own it.

So next time you say, “I’m just the manager" or "I'm just a supervisor"; remember: leadership isn’t about a title. It’s about showing up and realizing you’re already doing the work. Like photography, leadership is about acknowledging you’re already living it.

And in case you don't believe me, I encourage you to read this book called You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader by Mark Sanborn.