Titles Reveal, Not Create, True Leadership, Argues Leonardo Freixas

In a recent LinkedIn post, Leonardo Freixas challenges the conventional understanding of leadership, arguing that formal titles do not forge leaders but rather expose the true character of individuals.

Freixas suggests that the bestowal of authority acts as a revealing mechanism, stripping away pretense and showcasing an individual’s inherent qualities. He posits that when individuals are given a position of power, their underlying nature surfaces, leading to distinct behavioral shifts.

“Give someone authority and you find out who they’ve been the whole time.”

The Revealing Nature of Authority

Leonardo Freixas elaborates on how authority can amplify existing traits, leading to observable differences in behavior. He categorizes these responses into distinct patterns:

• Some individuals become more vocal, perhaps asserting their newfound power.
• Others exhibit greater clarity in their communication and actions.
• A key distinction is drawn between those who focus on self-preservation of their position and those who prioritize the well-being of their team.

According to Freixas, these distinctions are not always apparent in grand gestures but often manifest in subtle, everyday interactions. He highlights specific scenarios that serve as true indicators of character:

“The way they speak to someone who has nothing to offer them.”

This observation points to the importance of how individuals treat those perceived as less influential or without immediate benefit, a common test of genuine integrity.

Integrity Beyond Scrutiny

Freixas further emphasizes that true leadership is demonstrated in actions taken when external validation or pressure is minimal. He points to the consistency of behavior in low-stakes situations as a more accurate measure of character than performance under the scrutiny of a leadership title.

“The promises they keep when no one is keeping score.”

This sentiment underscores the idea that integrity is about internal commitment rather than external compliance. Freixas also includes the willingness to acknowledge errors:

“The mistakes they admit before they’re forced to.”

In Freixas’s view, these moments are crucial because they occur when there are fewer constraints or perceived consequences, thus offering a clearer window into an individual’s true self.

Leadership Without the Title

The core argument presented by Leonardo Freixas is that authority does not create leadership but rather removes the excuses that might have prevented someone from acting like a leader previously. He suggests that the most telling moments are those with the lowest stakes, as they are the most difficult to falsify.

This perspective helps explain why some individuals, upon gaining power, may paradoxically lose the trust of others. Freixas concludes by asserting that if you remove the title, what remains is the essence of what people were genuinely following all along.