What are the keys to developing your leadership identity?

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek To develop your leadership identity, focus on self-awareness and authenticity. Understand your values and strengths while seeking feedback from others. Embrace continuous learning and adapt to change. Build strong relationships by actively listening and supporting your team. Reflect on your experiences to align your actions with your vision and purpose, consistently demonstrating integrity and empathy.

Knowing your values is an important step in developing your leadership identity. ?Reflect on your experiences: Think about the experiences that have shaped you and the values that were important to you during those times. ?Identify your core values: Identify the values that are most important to you, such as honesty, integrity, or respect. ?Align your values with your goals: Ensure that your values align with your personal and professional goals, and that they guide your decision-making. ?Model your values: Model the behaviors that align with your values, and hold yourself accountable to them. By knowing your values and aligning them with your goals, you can develop a strong leadership identity that is authentic and effective.

1. Unwavering integrity, where a good leader consistently upholds moral and ethical values. People like to follow people who are consistent and decisive. 2. Empathy is another crucial element, because its the glue that connects you to your team and peers. 3. Visionary leadership, with a clear, inspiring vision and the ability to guide others toward a shared goal. As a visionary, be dynamic enough to be ready for change, and tenacious enough to go after what can make a difference, for you and the team!

Adopt a framework. There are many leadership framework. But you only need one. Why do this? Vision and consistency. Keep yourself on track to attain some ultimate goal.

Leadership isn't about having the biggest office or the fanciest title. It's about knowing who you are, and leading others to discover who they can become. The keys to developing your leadership identity? Authenticity — Be you. No one else can. Clarity — Know what you stand for and where you're going. Empathy — Listen first. People follow those who understand. Courage — Tough calls? Step up. Leaders go first. Your leadership identity isn't found in a manual; it's forged in every decision, every conversation, every day.

Seeking feedback is an important part of developing your leadership identity. Here are some tips: ???Ask your peers, direct reports, and mentors for feedback on your leadership style and behaviors. ???Be open to receiving feedback, even if it is critical or difficult to hear. Remember that feedback is an opportunity for growth and development. ???Use the feedback you receive to make changes and improvements to your leadership style and behaviors. ???Follow up with those who provided feedback to let them know how you have incorporated their feedback into your leadership approach. By seeking feedback and using it to make improvements, you can develop a strong and effective leadership identity.

Seeking feedback is important, but it’s only half the equation. The other half lies in recognizing how you respond to feedback. - Are you accepting, defensive, curious, closed-off? - Do your initial reactions shift over time? - Does feedback lead to reflection and action, or is it in one ear and out the other? There are no right or wrong answers—just an opportunity to develop deeper self-awareness surrounding your response. When you pay attention to your reaction to feedback, the reaction itself often tells a deeper story. When you understand the deeper story, you’re empowered to move from feedback to learning to action to growth.

We all have blind spots and leaders who have the humility to seek feedback to grow is a skill set that sets great leaders apart. In addition to getting feedback from team, mentors etc. leaders should invest in furthering their leadership skills with executive level coaching.

The ability to actively seek feedback is a hallmark of a truly effective leader that is not goverened by EGO. Embracing a learner's mindset and staying humble allows leaders to continuously adapt and evolve, fostering trust and respect within their teams.

??Start by researching and reading about different leadership styles, such as transformational, transactional, servant, and situational leadership. This will help you understand the different approaches to leadership and identify which style resonates with you ??Take a self-assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. This will help you understand which leadership style you are naturally inclined towards and which areas you need to work on ??Once you have identified strengths and weaknesses, start practicing different leadership styles in different situations. For example, if you are naturally a transformational leader, try adopting a more transactional approach in a situation that requires more structure and control

Experimenting with one's leadership style is one of the toughest. As a leader knows there are his/ her team members, peers that look up to the leader, fear of failure or 'letting them down' tends to take over. However a leader has to focus on the long term objective (of becoming your best self) and overcome this reluctance. Its a tough one, but necessary.

It took me years to figure out my unique style. I kept innovating myself to become the leader that i wanted, in line with my values, beliefs and personality. It's always better to be an authentic and evolved version of you, rather than a second hand version of someone else. This self discovery when it happens, is the best feeling that will ground you for the rest of your leadership journey, successfully.

Crafting your leadership identity is akin to building a guiding lighthouse. It requires self-awareness, feedback, assessing impact, alignment with values, adaptation, clear intentions, empathy, continuous learning, mentorship, and a strong sense of purpose. Just as a lighthouse serves as a beacon of safety, your leadership should provide guidance and security to those you lead. Evaluate your leadership impact, like the beam of a lighthouse, considering reach, problem-solving, and guiding your team. Illuminate but never blind others with your light, allow for others to become lighthouses in their own respective discipline, developing their own leadership identity.

Reflecting on your impact deepens self-awareness and refines your sense of purpose. I love doing an occasional self audit to see where am at. Like a check-in. I do regular introspection to see "what I've learnt" "what new things about me are emerging", "new strengths", potential "blind spots" etc. By evaluating your impact, you gain insights into your leadership style and its consequences on others, enabling continuous growth and adaptability.

Reflection over every actions and ability to course correct is the prime most quality of leadership and building the identity as genuine leader.

Reflecting on your impact allows you to better shape your needs, wants, and leadership identity. 10 reflection questions to help you examine your impact and leadership: 1. What impact did I intend to have? Did the intent match the impact? 2. What is the impact of "my vision"? 3. How have I celebrated myself and others? 4. How did I show up authentically? 5. What solutions were overlooked? Why? 6. What support do I need? How can I increase my community of support? 7. What challenges am I facing and what can I learn from them?? 8. What information is needed next to adapt to this environment/challenge? 9. Who can help me become a better leader? 10. If I could relive the moment (a time you gave feedback or made impact), what would I change?

?Attend networking events such as conferences, seminars, and workshops related to your industry or area of interest. This help meet new people and expand network. ?Join professional organizations related to industry or area of interest. This provide with opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and build relationships. ?Volunteer for events or organizations related to your industry or area of interest. This will help you meet new people and build your network while also giving back to the community. ?Use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your industry or area of interest. This will help you expand your network and stay up-to-date with industry news and trends.

Connecting with diverse professionals and mentors—whether in your field or outside it—broadens your perspective and sharpens your leadership style. Each conversation brings new insights, allowing you to learn from others' successes and mistakes. As a leader, it’s not just about who you know, but how you engage with them. Networking isn’t about quantity but about meaningful relationships that challenge and support your growth. Stay curious, and always be open to learning from others.

This begins with genuine connections, not just accumulating contacts. When networking, seek out mentors and peers who challenge and inspire you, broadening your perspective. Also see where and how you can offer value to your network, and build a reputation as a thoughtful and influential leader.

Networking can help a leader gain strategic insights and growth opportunities. It can, however get lonely at the top. Leaders should seek support from peers, be part of business communities with other leaders who can support them. Leaders should also consider a personal advisory board for advice.

As the jargon goes, "your network is your net worth". So build genuine connections and network to harness the leadership identity.

Developing your leadership identity is a delicate balancing act, much like being a chameleon in a jungle. You want to adapt to your surroundings and team, yet retain your unique colors. Be true to your values, beliefs, and principles. Authenticity builds trust and credibility. Understand the emotions and needs of your team members. This empathy allows you to adapt without compromising authenticity. Chameleons use body language to communicate. As a leader, communicate openly and transparently. Share your thoughts and intentions clearly. Regularly assess your leadership style and if adjustment to your authentic self is needed. Remember, adaptability is a strength, but authenticity is your anchor. Find the sweet spot where both coexist.

Every individual possesses strengths and areas for improvement. As one evolves into a leader, it becomes crucial to identify an environment and team that embraces and collaborates effectively with their unique qualities. Authenticity in leadership may bring about shifts in team dynamics, potential team member transitions, or adjustments to initial plans. However, fostering authenticity from the outset minimizes disruptions as one progresses in their leadership development.

Being authentic and genuine in efforts and expression is pivotal in building identity as a leader. We humans naturally identify and connect to energy and emotions. Hence any disguised attempt of genuinity will never naturally lead to connect. Being genuine and authentic in your expressions leads to connect with everyone and pivotal in building leadership identity.

Leadership is not reliant on the title. It entails the eagerness to rise up, put the team first, and live the values that drive the mission. Leadership is about having a clear vision, ability to delegate to the right talent and EMPOWERING others to ensure this vision happens. Leadership title is earned and not given. Leaders create an impact that lasts in their absence. In summary, to create your legacy and identity as a leader, connect, build relationship, earn trust, add value and you will have influence on others. If people trust you, they will follow you.

Building your leadership identity sometimes goes beyond the books and can't follow a steady path. As such, it often depends on your person and how they can adapt to create change and sustainable impact. This might entail; openness to learn, be authentic, receive feedbacks with good faith and the will to take new challenges when need arises.

To develop a leadership identity, you must possess the following: 1. Personal brand which can be your traits such as integrity and professionalism in the execution of tasks. 2. Flexibility and adaptability. This enables you to leave your identity as a leadership who can easily accommodate changes in strategy when need arises.

I believe that growing your self-awareness is crucial in developing your leadership identity. Not only to identify your values but to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Your strengths are the pillars upon which you will rely during challenging times. They are what you draw energy from, as often your strengths are related to doing the things you enjoy the most. They will inform the core of your leadership identity as they are closely related to who you are. Knowing your weaknesses is important for identifying your blind spots. No leader knows or is good at everything, and you're not supposed to! But your weaker sides can tell you which leadership styles are less suited to your character.