The need to pull rank signals a deficit of influence, not an abundance of leadership.

1 min read

Positional authority is granted; true influence is earned.

When a leader feels compelled to 'pull rank,' it often stems from a place of frustration, impatience, or a fundamental misunderstanding of what leadership truly entails.

This action, while asserting control in the short term, erodes trust, stifles initiative, and damages morale in the long run.

It signals to the team that their contributions are less valued than the leader's position, directly stripping away any earned influence.

Authentic leadership operates on the currency of respect, built through consistent demonstration of competence, empathy, and integrity, rather than the blunt instrument of official status.

Leaders who lean on rank instead of influence ultimately create compliance, not commitment.