How to influence beyond titles?
Last week, I received a message from a client.
He had just been interviewed by one of Dubai’s leading radio stations. He was asked to share his insights on industry shifts and the success of his business. He sent me the interview clip along with a message:
“My first step toward a bold future!”
Why did this moment matter?
Because just months earlier, he hadn’t seen himself in this capacity. He was a high-performing executive, but he wasn’t yet a visible thought leader.
Our work together wasn’t just about helping him to become an even better leader to grow his business - it was about shaping his “Next.”
✔ How he could evolve as a leader beyond operational success.
✔ How to step into influence—not just leading a company but shaping conversations and industries.
✔ How to own his expertise in a way that creates impact beyond himself.
This required three massive leadership shifts. No one should underestimate the resilience, mindset transformation, and bold action it takes to go Beyond.
The three shifts every leader must navigate to start building true leadership authority.
1. Identity Shift → Seeing yourself in a new capacity
↳ Leaders often limit themselves to their current roles, but authority requires seeing yourself as more than your title.
↳ This shift requires stepping into a new version of yourself - from expert to thought leader, from technical leader to strategic influencer, from executive to impact-maker.
💡 This is like upgrading your operating system - your old identity won’t support your next level of influence.
2. Action Shift → Moving from invisible to visible
↳ Leadership authority isn’t about waiting - it’s about stepping into visibility.
↳ This requires courage and conviction - your first keynote, article, or strategic move beyond your comfort zone.
💡 A survey done by Thoughtldr.com: 64% of recruiters stated that candidates acknowledged as thought leaders are more likely to secure a role over equally qualified peers without a thought leadership track record.
3. Influence Shift → Owning your leadership voice
↳ Influence is the new leadership currency - it’s no longer about hierarchy but about trust, credibility, and the ability to shape narratives.
↳ Leaders who command influence don’t just contribute to discussions - they create them.
💡 Think about your leadership voice like as of a lighthouse - when you own it, you don’t chase opportunities, you attract them.
The leaders who navigate these shifts successfully don’t wait for permission to lead—they build influence, own their space, and take action.
The key message is clear - leadership authority is shifting from ‘assigned" to ’built'.
Gen Z & Millennials are redefining leadership - they follow credible, values-driven leaders rather than hierarchical figures.
Leaders who master these shifts don’t need permission to lead.
Some of you might be thinking now. I understand this matters, but…
Some comments I have heard before from my clients: Sanita, this is so hard, why would I choose to do this? I get it. It's uncomfortable. It's hard work. It demands effort.
So, why would you bother? Because playing small is even harder.
↳ Staying stuck in your current identity means watching others take the stage while you wonder if you could have done the same.
↳ Avoiding visibility means being overlooked, even when you have the expertise to make a difference.
↳ Failing to build influence means relying on hierarchy, titles, or others’ decisions to determine your future.
The hardest truth to swallow?
→ If you don’t step up, someone else will.
→ If you don’t shape your narrative, others will define it for you.
→ If you don’t lead the conversation, you’ll follow someone else’s.
So, what's the reward for all the hard work?
Identity Shift → Clarity, confidence, and the ability to lead at the next level.
Action Shift → Visibility that opens doors you didn’t know existed.
Influence Shift → A leadership brand that attracts opportunities instead of chasing them.
📌 What’s harder? Staying unseen, unheard, and underestimated.
The leaders who own their authority don’t wait. They create.
In my following insight, I will break down 3 levels of authority that lead to strategic influence. If you found this helpful and think anyone else would benefit from reading this, please forward and share.