Most people equate leadership with control—managing the team, steering projects, dictating outcomes, holding the power to make final calls. The organizational chart says you're in charge, so leadership must be about that authority, right?

But here's the thing: when you peel back all those formal responsibilities and structural advantages, leadership isn't really about what you decide or who reports to you. It boils down to something far simpler yet infinitely harder—the actual behaviors you demonstrate and the competencies you've built.

Think about it in any context. The best decision-makers aren't always the ones with the loudest voice or the most seniority. They're the ones who listen, who understand the nuances, who can synthesize information and guide people toward clarity. That's a skill set, not a title. In DAOs, community projects, or any Web3 initiative, this distinction matters even more—because authority is earned through credibility and demonstrated competence, not handed down by a hierarchy.