Leveraging Your Identity
What part of you do people see?
Great leadership requires awareness of your unconscious thoughts and behaviors, and the willingness to examine how others experience them.
Alignment is the goal.
Are your intentions and actions aligned with how others experience you?
If not, what gets in the way?
Fear: Unconscious or consciously, we are always navigating safety. Protecting our fears and eliminating threats.
Childhood: Many of the defense mechanisms that we developed were extremely helpful in our childhood (both good and bad). Often, unconsciously, we retain a tight grip on those strategies even though the threat has passed and it no longer serves us.
Identity: We all identify with some persona: strong, quiet, confrontational, pragmatic, etc. We see this as our “go to” approach and double down when tension is high to retain safety and comfort.
This mindset and approach morphs into “who we are” and may feel fixed. However, I would challenge you to think about developing several identities. Consider that you are a more dynamic and capable person than you are giving yourself credit for.
To paint an intricate landscape, you need a variety of brushes, each serving a different purpose. Leadership is no different. One approach cannot meet every need.
Hiding behind one identity limits your capacity and impact.
Where to start: Awareness
Finish this sentence:
“I am known for always being…”
“... is just the way I am.”
The words we use to describe ourselves are the very things that limit your potential.
These are skills, your super power, and attributes, but they are not WHO you are.
Next: Intentionality
Reframe: We believe the stories we tell ourselves. So do others. Change the narrative.
I have a tendency to…
A strength of mine is…
If I am not careful, I might…
What served us then, may not serve us now. Decide to rise above the old beliefs and narratives.
Remind yourself that you are worthy of more and that you are more intricate than you are giving yourself credit for.
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