Letting Go of Leadership Identity to Create a Leadership “Minifesto”

I’ve recently had a series of performance conversations and have realized we often use the term “leadership identity” as a catchall phrase to describe the intangible, those aspects of leadership that we want to see more of but we aren’t always very good at describing. Leadership identity sounds magical, like a cape you can put on (if only you can find one) that will give you the power to see through walls and lead mega project teams with your bare hands. In my experience, when we talk about leadership identity it is most often used to characterize someone who we experience as lacking in key leadership attributes or in employee development plans as a goal to be achieved despite its vagueness. It’s almost like saying, I don’t know what it is, but I’ll know it when I see it. So I’ve decided to abandon “leadership identity” as label and start asking for something explicit to make it more real for each of us. I propose each of us creates a “Leadership Minifesto.”

What’s a Leadership Minifesto? Well, to begin with, it’s not a long, drawn out document like a manifesto that will take you weeks or months to create. It is simple, quick, and powerful to create. Start by asking yourself to write, draw, or speak wholeheartedly about what you want in leadership, both yours and from others with a focus on the next month. Yes, only for the next month and YES, from the heart. What does a good leader say and do, what moves her with compassion, what scares him, what fills her with delight, wonder, and joy? If you can create a highly descriptive paragraph, some bullet points, or a picture that illustrates the actions, feelings, and practices of the great leader you want in your life, the great leader you choose to be, you have your manifesto for the next month and possibly beyond.

What qualities would spur you to take some risks or show up in a new way over the coming weeks? How about the courage to authentically state your truth even though your ideas may seem to run against the tide? How about showing a willingness to be vulnerable by asking to facilitate the next team meeting even though showing up in this way is outside your comfort zone? Maybe saying no more often is important for you to be a great leader. Whatever it is, capture it. Write it as a story or write it in ALL CAP BULLET POINTS, write it on a whiteboard, or paint it on an easel. Write it with your family in mind, write it for your team. And most importantly, write it for the leader that matters most: YOU!

Here's an example:

·         Speak my truth even if that truth may be unpopular

·         Let go of the fear of not being liked

·         Be present even when I want to distract myself or I feel uncomfortable

·         Ask others to be accountable and hold them large enough to meet their commitments

·         Embrace my creative “differentness” BOLDLY

·         Do something different every day – walk when I would run, dabble on the piano, sing anywhere

·         Make connection and simple acts of kindness with people I often overlook or pretend aren’t there like shopkeepers, gas station attendants, homeless people, anyone

What would happen if everyone wrote a Leadership Minifesto for the next month? I think we’d see a swell of positive disruption, a tidal wave of forward change. So I challenge you to spend 15 minutes writing your own Leadership Minifesto. Share it with your family, friends , and colleagues or tweet it to the world. Post it where you can see it every day and most importantly: live it, wholeheartedly. See what changes in your world, then do it again next month. If you really want to embrace the challenge, why not post your Minifesto in the comments section below?