Identity

Identity has been a hot topic in recent times. One of the lingering memories I have of the Olympic Games held in London in 2012 was the sense of national pride it engendered in the nation. I think we struggle nationally with who we are. Yet the London Olympics somehow galvanised a national identity. Identity is powerful; I would propose that, unless you know who you are, it is challenging to lead well. Leaders who know who they are will be less insecure in their leadership.

“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment where great ideas can happen.” Simon Sinek

To lead your team well, you need to be confident in your ability to change course and take responsibility for your decision making. If you understand the way you are wired then, as you face different challenges and adversity, it will help you to resist your negative default preferences which may not help the situation.

Creating an environment where great ideas can happen requires you as a leader to be secure in who you are. When you are secure you can relax in the talent and skills of others and create an environment where each person can bring their unique contribution.

When your identity is secure it leaves you free to focus on building and developing others. In this increasingly complex world, you will need to utilise the different strengths in the team to enable you to traverse the new terrain opening up. Knowing your tendencies (which make up your identity) and those of your team will enable them to lean into their strengths, skills and gifts which have been proven before.

The key to understanding who you are is to know yourself. There are several great tools available to help you as a leader to do that.

Being Secure in Who You Are

The benefits of having clarity about who you are, what you can do, and where you will need to collaborate with others will create an environment around you which empowers others.

“A strong and secure leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak and insecure leader gives blame and takes the credit.” John Wooden

Insecure teams are a result of insecure leadership, and in the waters we now travel in that can sink the team.

Secure leaders:

  • Understand their strengths and their weaknesses
  • Know they cannot be good at everything
  • Know they do not need to know everything
  • Can celebrate the wins of others
  • Collaborate with others for the success of the greater team
  • Have the highest regard for others knowing that we all win together
  • Create an environment where all can contribute, innovate, and create
  • Create a learning culture not a blame culture
  • Have fun along the way

The cost of insecurity is measured in the bottleneck that is the insecure leader who needs to know and control everything. They end up stressed out and so does everyone else around them.

As a leader, if you don’t know yourself take the time to find out clearly who you are. When you understand your identity, those around you will discover theirs too.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are.” Brené Brown

To find out more about your identity book a discovery call here.

Stay safe and be comfortable in yourself.

Mark Billage

Mark Billage

Mark’s passion is to help realise individuals’ potential, be they leaders or team members, through empowering organisational culture. He has spent 7 years leading an organisation based in the non profit sector. In that time, he focused on creating a culture that enabled and empowered individuals, with the aim of seeing a high performing team better able to achieve the organisation’s mission.

Our Vision

To train and equip leaders to transform culture, build successful teams and organisations where everyone is seen, heard and valued for their unique contribution.

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