Identity Theft

Have you ever heard of identity theft? Most of us have and the idea that someone would steel our name, our personal information is terrifying to say the least. As a leader, our identity has value. People often go to great lengths to gain an identity that will make them appreciated, acceptable, or more recognizable. Identities can be associated with the type of clothes people wear, the cars they drive, or the way they look. Professions or careers also serve as an identity. We are many things to many people and our identity is broader than any one of the items mentioned above. As the 2007 year begins, it is a great time to reflect on our direction and who we are, what we represent, and if these are congruent.

Recently I got a new haircut. It has been refreshing to try something different. The benefit of a new haircut is that eventually the hair will grow out and we can return to our same old look, if that is what we wish to do. The irony has been that some people look at me differently, because the hire is spiked a bit and thus doesn’t look as conservative. My identity has not changed, only the hair. My values, beliefs, and educational knowledge are the same, but how I am viewed is different. Is that unfair? Yes, but does it happen to a lot of people yes. Today’s workforce is diverse and in training programs that I give on Generational Diversity in the Workplace, we discuss the identity of a person is more than meets the eye, but if we are not careful the eye can blind us and prevent us from seeing what really exist.

Perhaps you can relate to meeting the people who are leaders or members of a team that attempt to take on a false identity in the hopes of fooling people. As a speaker and trainer, I see this too often. The person who wants to answer all the questions in order to impress someone in the room, the person that can say the right answers, but wouldn’t have a clue of how to implement the plan, because they don’t understand the reason or the process. Most likely, this person has stolen an identity from a respected colleague. They are able to give the data, but are unable to apply the knowledge. As discussed in prior newsletters, I read people and fortunately am good at this. There are times when I am leaving a program and a participant will come up to me to express their frustration, because of the display a peer has demonstrated, trying to impress the people present with a level of buy-in or knowledge, yet the team member who works beside them knows that this is all a façade. They are often surprised when I advise them before they speak, that I know that the person was not being genuine and if the company has decided to do an executive debrief then I will be sharing my observations and the reasons that I believe this to be accurate as well as advising them on what to look for in the future.

Leaders and teams function best when the identity is real. It is predictable. The actions and the words are consistent. We develop our identity over time and it can be reshaped to be better as we grow. Leaders that are successful have demonstrated integrity in their character. They have proven themselves honest and dependable. They don’t need the power of a position to make them a leader for they will be a leader without the title, it is part of who they are and who they are meant to be, it is their destiny. They will be prepared, because they have a vision and are able to share it with clarity.

Take a look at your identity. What are your skills and your qualities? What is your direction and vision? What do you want to start doing to improve your identity? What do you want to stop doing to improve your identity or to make it more consistent with the direction that you want? What is unique to you and your identity? Is it your skill level or is it your personality, the way you interact with people.

When we examine our true identity we go beyond the resume credentials and thus must examine who we are that others see? Once a leader fully grasps who they are, they realize they have great potential and are able to tap into their resources to gain strength and insight to be effective leaders. Once we are better informed about ourselves and our capacity we can grow. With the knowledge that we have, there is no problem to big. Time and energy should be spent on being a leader with integrity, rather than a leader in disguise. So often people try to disguise their looks, their social circle and even move to be a new location. What they forget is that wherever they go, is where they are.

Happy 2007! Request reprint permission of an existing article or let us know if we can provide a customized article for your industry magazine or association newsletter.