Business Titles Don’t Always Equal Knowledge

I’m often in meetings or on calls with people in all sorts of business positions. What surprises me to see, is how people can get nervous or even defensive with someone, simply because of their title.

Titles in business generally exist in order to label an individual based on their ranking, skill set and/or responsibilities. That being said, I have learned over the years to not take too much stock in titles. I’ve been in meetings with both CEOs and tacticians. Some have impressed me with their passion and knowledge, while others have not.

This is an important lesson for anyone in business. Just because someone has a bigger title than you doesn’t mean they know more, while someone with a lower title may know a lot more than you. Neither situation is inherently good or bad, it just is. When meeting with people, take solace in who you are and what you know. Each individual brings to the table, their own unique experiences and skills. It is only when we are comfortable with each other, that we can effectively collaborate and create amazing things.