Is Your Identity Serving Your Leadership—or Trapping It?

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In 2008, Beyoncé introduced the world to Sasha Fierce, her bold, fearless stage alter-ego. Sasha wasn’t just a gimmick—she was a carefully crafted identity that allowed Beyoncé to channel confidence and power in a way that felt natural in the spotlight. Offstage, Beyoncé describes herself as introverted and reserved, but when she stepped into the Sasha Fierce identity, she became someone who could captivate millions, deliver powerhouse performances, and redefine what it meant to be an artist.

Over time, Beyoncé no longer needed Sasha Fierce. She had fully integrated those qualities into her own identity, becoming one of the most iconic and influential performers of all time. Her story is a powerful reminder that identity isn’t static—it’s something we can shape and evolve intentionally, and it deeply influences how we show up in the world. And you? Who are you becoming?

❓ Why Identity Shapes Leadership

Your identity acts as the internal compass that guides your behavior, decisions, and interactions with others. It’s the "why" behind the "what" of your leadership style. For instance: If you see yourself as a servant-leader, your behavior will naturally prioritize collaboration, empathy, and supporting your team’s growth.

Your identity influences not only how you lead but also how you respond to pressure. When challenges arise, leaders with a strong sense of who they are and what they stand for don’t just weather the storm—they become anchors for their teams. Getting more clarity on your identity allows you to align values, actions, and life with your true self to be a more authentic leader.

👥 Break Free from Identity Traps: Shape Who You Choose to Be

Our brains have a powerful mechanism that aligns our behavior with our identity. The way you see yourself drives your habits and actions every day. This can be a great thing—or a trap.

If you hold onto identities that don’t serve you, they will hold you back. For example, if you think "I'm a bad public speaker," it's an identity statement that will reflect in your behavior by avoiding opportunities to practice, feeling extra nervous when you speak, and displaying insecure body language. Over time, this cycle reinforces the belief and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The truth? Your identity isn’t permanent—it’s a choice. You can change the way you see yourself and reshape your story.

You can adopt a growth-oriented identity like "I'm a learner" or "I am a challenge-seeker." You'll start taking steps to improve—signing up for a class, accepting speaking opportunities, and building confidence. Over time, you'll grow into the version of yourself you choose to become.

⚡ The Power of Self-Authoring

Because of the brain’s "self-fulfilling prophecy" mechanism, self-authoring - taking charge of your identity - is the most powerful way to change your habits and behaviors. Instead of accepting "This is just who I am," ask yourself "Who do I want to become?" This can enable you to make deep changes in your life faster.

Consider someone who shifts from wanting to run a marathon (a task) to becoming a runner (an identity). This identity approach might affect your diet, clothing, and social circles. The new identity will penetrate all aspects of your life.

🧐 Action Item: Self-Author a Heroic-Self

You can use this newsletter to work on various identities, but I want to challenge you to think big! A Heroic-Self is the best possible version of yourself you can imagine. Take a moment to reflect on these questions:

1️⃣ Who do you want to become?

🔹️ What are you fighting for? What is your calling? What is at the center of you? What is your narrative and the cause connected to it? What is your purpose?

🔹️ Envision the traits, values, and skills of the best version of yourself.

🔹️ Write it down and make it a habit to read this Heroic Self every day before you start working.

2️⃣ What do you need to leave behind?

🔹️ What do you need to leave behind to become that person?

🔹 ️️Identify identities, habits, or beliefs that no longer serve you.

3️⃣ What do you need to keep?

🔹️ Change requires both letting go and preserving what matters.

🔹️ Highlight habits, strengths, and values that you already have that align with your Heroic-Self.

4️⃣ What do you need to change?

🔹 Look at the Heroic Self list and choose one high-impact habit that you want to change or adopt.

🔹️ This is the core of your work: read your Heroic-Self every day and gradually translate it into habits, one habit at a time.

This work will take time, but it will serve you your whole life! I do it every day too.

The first three newsletters this year focused on Goals, Habits, and Identity. These three elements work together and must align—to transform you into someone who consistently sets the right goals and maintains positive habits year after year.

As Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” What kind of leader do you need to become to change your corner of the world?

📚 Book of the week: The Alter-Ego Effect

Todd Herman’s The Alter Ego Effect shows how crafting and tapping into a personal alter ego identity can help you break through self-imposed limitations and perform at your best. It's one of my favorite personal development books because of its practicality and great storytelling.

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