Identity is core to human health and happiness. It is about “knowing who you are”. Understanding your identity and having a solid insight to your strengths and weaknesses is critical to strong leadership, decision making and living in synergy with yourself. Over our years of development we often have taken numerous assessments and feel we know ourselves pretty well. In leadership however, continuing to know ourselves and our evolutions is critical. As we grow our “identity” also evolves and changes. We have a core (or foundational) identity of who we are and then we have an identity that continues to evolve based on how we think, act and perform. This is shaped by our values, thoughts, insights and drivers. Based on who we are and what we are up to, we are constantly sending messages through our words and actions. In leadership it is important to be in tune with how these thoughts, feelings and actions affect others and shape our identity. When we do not understand our identity it affects our leadership. To lead well it is imperative you have a strong foundation and healthy ability to be self-reflective about how you are growing and changing and where you need to growth and change.
When you have a healthy identity you are:
· less jealous, envious or threatened by people
· less intimidated and overwhelmed with complex challenges
· less impostor syndrome and feeling of inadequacy
· more aware of choices, options and opportunity
· more mentally clear and sharp
· make faster decisions
· more loving and naturally compassionate
If you would like to dig deeper into this topic it is a great coaching topic OR a thought leader I appreciate and follow is Dr. Caroline Leaf. She has spent years looking at thoughts, feelings and behaviors. She connects mental, physical and spiritual health to the brain from a perspective of faith and science. In 2017 she published the book, “The Perfect You” a dive into personal Identity. The book provides seven steps to unlock your unique design. Learn more here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPbStPztIV0
Dr. Leaf is a long time cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD in Communication Pathology and a BSc in Logopedics and Audiology, specializing in metacognitive and cognitive neuropsychology (learn more about her: Dr. Leaf here).
