Discover the Power Behind Your Unique Leadership Identity
Photo by Tzido
The topic of leadership identity is a growing conversation, and thankfully so. There are a number of books articles from reputable sources hitting on leadership and identity. While more conversation is welcomed, I’m seeing a general pattern that bears highlighting.
Most approaches toward discovering leadership identity offer a method-based approach: Do these steps or act this way to define your leadership identity. I get it, methodology is practical and helpful. And we’re so wired for implementation that we crave for a list of hacks to put into practice.
But while these may seem to be practical and helpful approaches, they still beg a huge question: If we can discover our leadership identity by doing more stuff, wouldn’t we (by this point in human history) have figured out a list of things to do by now? How confident can we really be that these new steps are THE steps to take?
“We’re so wired for implementation that we crave for a list of hacks to put into practice.”
Outside-In
This method-based approach is what I call Outside-In. It’s the belief that if I manage my external activity then my internal identity will take care of itself. I’ll unpack Outside-In more fully in my next blog post, but for now let me summarize by saying it’s a set up for frustration. The Outside-In approach is faulty because the premise it’s based on is backwards. What we do doesn’t shape who we are. Instead, the opposite is true: Who we are shapes what we do.
So how do we discover our leadership identity, if not by what we do? Well, you should start with … you.
“Who we are shapes what we do.”
Start With You
In my last blog, I suggested beginning with a question: Are you who you want to be? (previous blog post). This question, of course, EXPOSES the issue for what it is: We DON’T know who we are.
But not knowing who you are isn’t a problem, it’s an opportunity. And instead of trying to solve the identity puzzle with Outside-In activity, solve it with an intuitive conviction based on a foundational, self-evident truth: You are the only you that will ever exist in human history.
Let that sink in for a moment.
There are 8 billion people on the planet today, and not a single one of them is like you. There have been an estimated 109 billion that lived on earth before us, and each of them were as unique as you are. Even if you have an identical twin that shares your exact DNA, you will be unique from him/her.
Younique. That’s the self-evident truth
“You are the only you that will ever exist in human history.”
The intuitive conviction flows out of this truth. Being unique means that there is a “skin” in which you and only you will be comfortable living in. In other words, there is a life to be lived in which your soul organically and naturally flows. You are able to be you, then work on being the best you possible in the leadership opportunities you find yourself in.
And when you’re content with being you, you don’t need anything from anyone else. You don’t need accolades, recognition or followers. You’re able to offer all your skills, talent, experience and competencies, and do it in a way that genuinely serves others.
This truth of your uniqueness and the conviction that follows it may sound trivial, but without them…
You try to be someone you’re not
You compare yourself to other people
You cover up for insecurities—many of which you aren’t even aware of
You operate out of fear
You identify yourself by your performance
You measure your value on what other people think of you
You equate your value with your performance
You struggle to see your blind spots, and so you have low self-awareness
Your actions have a tinge of self-interest and self-protection—
You will struggle to collaborate fully because you will find other people threatening
You will bounce from one situation to another in search of purpose and fulfillment
None of these contribute to making you an effective leader. In fact, they undermine your ability and competency to lead.
“Being unique means that there is a ‘skin’ in which you and only you will be comfortable living in.”
Where To Begin
There will be action steps to take, which I’ll unpack in further blog posts. But for now, the first step to take is the most important one: Embrace the truth that you are unique, and with that uniqueness comes value. Being you is the best possible identity for you to live out.
You can’t define your leadership identity until you define your human identity. As Warren Bennis said, “Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple. And it is also that difficult.”
It will be a process—actually, a life-long process—and it will be a challenge. But the rewards will be far greater than if you avoid the journey altogether. You’ll be more effective as a leader, and much more fulfilled and gratified.
“You can’t define your leadership identity until you define your human identity.”
