Why "Who am I?" is a crucial question in leadership
It is a point that many managers underestimate - especially if they have been working with strategy, target systems and leadership models for years: People do not primarily follow what you say. They follow what you are.
Your identity as a leader - what you stand for, how you behave, what you radiate - has a greater impact on your team than any organizational chart or mission statement. And this is precisely where an often unused lever lies: your impact is not created by individual measures, but by living your attitude.
Because your identity is revealed where there is no PowerPoint slide:
- How do you deal with pressure?
- How do you react to mistakes - in others and in yourself?
- How do you behave towards people who disagree with you or think completely differently from you?
All of this sends signals. And these signals shape the culture of your team.
An example: If you demand agility, but only release every decision after three coordination loops - no one will feel agility. If you emphasize personal responsibility, but intervene in every important decision yourself - the result is not a culture of trust, but silent control.
So what can you do? How do you develop your leadership identity in a targeted way? Here are three concrete approaches that have proven themselves in everyday life:
1. don't just ask for feedback - actively question it.
Ask 1-2 people you trust for honest feedback on your impact: "What do I radiate in everyday life - even between the lines?" This is often the greatest source of insight.
2. take a personal "tolerance inventory".
Make a concrete note of what behavior you tolerate in your team, even though it contradicts your own values. Ask yourself: "What would a strong leader do in my position?" This small change in perspective often brings surprisingly clear answers.
3. define your own leadership leitmotif.
Write down in one sentence what you want to stand for as a leader. Not as a vision, but as an everyday compass. Example: "I strengthen courage where fear paralyzes." - or: "I am clear where others avoid."
Such small impulses have a stronger effect than many believe. Because identity is not static. It can be changed - if you are prepared to make a conscious decision.
And yes, aspirations and reality sometimes diverge. That's not a problem. The important thing is that you notice it - and take action. Because the clearer your identity, the stronger your influence.
To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch
