Refining Your Leadership Identity

Solidifying your Seat At The Table

Dear reader

Having over 30% female executives leads companies to outperform their peers by 15%. This powerful statistic highlights the impact of diverse leadership. Today, we’ll focus on defining your unique leadership identity and using your strengths to make a meaningful impact.

Core Elements of Leadership Identity

Your leadership identity defines who you are as a leader—your core values, strengths, and unique qualities. When you understand these elements, you make decisions that align with your values and clearly communicate your vision.

Creating Safe Identity Workspaces

To develop your leadership identity, it’s crucial to find or create spaces where you can express yourself freely and experiment with leadership styles. Whether through mentoring, professional groups, or informal networks, these environments offer opportunities to refine your leadership identity and receive constructive feedback.

Personal Story: Maria’s Development

Maria (name changed for privacy), a rising leader in finance, initially felt pressured to adopt an aggressive leadership style that didn’t align with her values. After joining a women’s leadership group she found a supportive space to explore her strengths and redefine her leadership style. By crafting a personal mission statement that emphasised empathy and collaboration, Maria strengthened her leadership identity and positively transformed her team's dynamics.

Practical Tips: Developing Your Leadership Identity

• Self-Reflection: Identify your core values and understand how they influence your leadership style. What principles guide you as a leader?

• Creating a Personal Mission Statement: Craft a mission statement that reflects your leadership philosophy and goals, serving as a guiding force in your decisions and actions.

• Seek Supportive Spaces: Engage with groups, mentors, or networks that allow you to discuss and refine your leadership identity in a supportive environment.

Building a strong and authentic leadership identity is a dynamic process. By staying true to yourself and embracing growth, you’ll solidify your leadership and increase your impact. In our final newsletter, we’ll explore how to leverage your leadership identity to overcome challenges and leave a lasting legacy.

Call to Action for the week

This week, take time to draft your personal mission statement and seek out environments where you can grow. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in Part 3.

Together, we can make a difference with our Seat At The Table.

I'm rooting for your success,

Nina Devouge

CEO of ELLEUMINATE

Founder of Seat At The Table