Yes. Obviously it does, in some ways. People with some job titles tend to get paid more than people with other job titles. Some levels of job title tend to correspond to different scopes of responsibility (e.g. people management, function management). And, at least in some sense, your job title is an approximation of the work you spend every day doing.
From someone who similarly wanted and got a Director title, I can say that the title does impact how strangers perceive you. It can open some doors, but, at the end of the day, skillset and leadership skills are what matter in our career satisfaction and progression. Titles can be overrated, and they definitely don't tell the most accurate story of someone's ability to perform at a job.
I wish I read this sooner.
You've made some great points!
From someone who similarly wanted and got a Director title, I can say that the title does impact how strangers perceive you. It can open some doors, but, at the end of the day, skillset and leadership skills are what matter in our career satisfaction and progression. Titles can be overrated, and they definitely don't tell the most accurate story of someone's ability to perform at a job.
I have relentlessly focused on developing my skills, but, failed to advocate for myself, which also is a problem. Glad to have read this article.