There are many ways in which people identify themselves. People identify by race, gender, economic class, age, culture, religion, personality, etc. It is very possible for people to identify with multiple identities. There are identities that people can choose to identify by; however, other identities people are born with. Some of these identities give people power over others and some give others power over them. The identities people claim by help write their story and impact them on a day to day basis whether they realize it or not. I see myself identifying as a Christian, black and white, culturally diverse, open-minded, extraverted, outgoing, focused, young male. 

These characteristics have not only enhanced my way of life but also have impacted the way I lead. Some of them have given me privilege, while others have done the exact opposite. Ultimately, my identities have gaged me towards leading people to positive social changes. In the article, “Five Ways Leaders Can Reclaim their Identity,” by Glenn Llopis, the idea of leaders rounding their identity (or identities) around this spectrum of responsibilities and roles in leadership to help craft humanity and community is portrayed. These five areas help to open and grow leadership qualities through one’s identity and it will help to engage others and cater to their needs as well. This spectrum is universal which is great because people claim different identities and have different styles of leadership, making this all unique to our differences.

Many people today struggle with the desire and ability to be unique; however, this is what makes us special and different. It emphasizes the importance of our differences in identities which enhances our differences in leadership styles. Too often, people view leadership on one platform and that is an attractive white male with an extraverted, outgoing personality. Although I am not an attractive white male, I am still male with an extraverted, outgoing personality and this gives me privilege over other leaders. However, since I do not receive the privilege of being a good-looking white male, this diminishes people’s desire to listen to me. Due to the fact of my physical appearance, people are less likely to be open to approach me, listen to me, and trust me. Once people get over their ignorance, this is when the privilege I possess comes into play. After they see that there is nothing wrong with me due to the physical appearance, they are able to easily identify with me because of the characteristics of my personality. From the article referred to earlier, the first way a leader reclaims their identity is by defining their own style of leadership. To utilize the strengths of my personality and identities, I am a leader who builds other people up and creates a space of comfort for them. A leader’s style of leadership stems from their identities. The second way is for a leader to learn how to tell their story. This is important because it makes their style of leadership unique to others. This is another way of connecting to people. Through vulnerability, people feel comforted because leadership is a very personal thing and about serving others. Through one’s story, others are able to feel motivated and empowered. Leaders must allow others to connect to them through their story, which will express their identities and how that has impacted them.

Identity in leadership goes farther than one’s physical characteristics but how willing a person is to build others up, listen to them, and make them know that they are valued. For myself, I make it a point to engage with everyone who is willing to accept me for all my identities and empower them to be the best that they can be. Exactly that is what identify in, making others feel empowered, especially those who are too weak to stick up for themselves. It is important for leaders to surround themselves with people who are different from them. This will teach them to never stop growing and learning, which is the third point of the article. If leaders don’t surround themselves with others who are different than them and do show up with an open-mind, they will merely be the same person for their lifetime. Leaders have to identify in others, how they can help them and how others can help them. This develops a relationship with those who leaders are trying to lead. This relationship is very important because outsiders are able to see how a leader treats those who follow them. This ties into the fourth point of leaders needing to discover their executive presence. Leaders know they are successfully doing their job when their followers comfortably identify and trust them. 

Leadership is to ultimately serve others by empowering and creating comfortable settings for them. This is why leaders must possess identities that shape them to do this effectively and efficiently, which looks different for each leader because everyones journey and deeper purpose for leadership is different. Which is the fifth and final point, for leaders to identify the bigger picture, to see how their journey can help others and to fulfill their purposes within the leadership realm.

Works Cited

Llopis, Glenn. “5 Ways Leaders Can Reclaim Their Identity.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 22 Apr.

2013, www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2013/04/22/5-ways-leaders-can-reclaim-their-identity/#3471f3d9a7bb.