What I Mean by Building Influence Before the Title

I was recently featured in Women Mag in an article called Building Influence Before the Title, and I wanted to take a moment to expand on the heart of that message here.

One of the biggest things I believe is this:

You do not have to wait for a title to start leading.

A lot of people think leadership begins when the promotion comes. They think the title is what gives them permission to speak up more, show up differently, or carry more influence. But in my experience, the real work starts much earlier.

It starts in how you communicate.

It starts in how you build trust.

It starts in how you handle pressure, how you prepare, and how consistently people experience you.

That is what I mean when I talk about building influence before the title.

Performance Matters, But It Is Not the Whole Picture

Doing great work matters. It always will.

But strong performance is only part of the equation. I have seen many capable people doing excellent work, yet still feeling overlooked or unsure of how to move into the next level of their career.

Why? Because growth is not only about what you do. It is also about how you are perceived, how you communicate your value, and how you position yourself for the opportunities you want.

That does not mean performing for attention. It means being intentional.

Executive Presence Is More Practical Than People Think

A lot of people hear the phrase “executive presence” and assume it is something vague or surface-level. I see it differently.

To me, executive presence is practical.

It shows up in how you speak in a meeting.

How you respond under pressure.

How you connect your work to bigger goals.

How you carry yourself when the moment matters.

It is not about trying to look important. It is about how you show up.

Influence Is Built in Everyday Moments

Influence is not reserved for executives.

It is built through consistency, communication, strategic thinking, and the way you show up before anyone hands you a larger platform.

That is why I always encourage professionals not to wait until the title changes before they start growing into the person they want to become.

Start now.

Start strengthening your communication.

Start building trust.

Start thinking more intentionally about your presence, your relationships, and the value you bring into a room.

The Real Goal

The goal is not just to get promoted.

The goal is to become the kind of person who can carry greater responsibility with confidence, intention, and impact.

That is the deeper message behind Building Influence Before the Title.

The title may come later, but the work begins much earlier.

If you have not read the full Women Mag feature yet, you can read it here.