Promoting Identity Development in Leadership Education: A Multidomain Approach to Developing the Whole Leader

Abstract

Empirical research suggests focusing on one's identity as a leader may enhance ongoing leadership development. As a complement to traditional theory-and skills-based approaches to leader development, we offer an identity-based, multi-domain approach to leadership development through a series of integrated in-class exercises. Specifically, these exercises focus on developing four components of leader identity: meaning, strength, levels (personal, relational, and collective), and integration of domain-specific sub-identities, culminating in the creation of a leader identity narrative. After a brief review of the literature on leader identity, we describe the exercises in detail along with potential prompts for personal reflection and group discussion. We also present qualitative evidence of the intended outcomes of the exercises, including the desired effect of developing students' leader identities.

An Empirical Investigation of Leader Identity Formation and Implications for Executive Coaching and Leadership Development

“…The small to moderate correlations of each of the enabling factors supports the sensemaking that can be provided in executive coaching sessions, exploring their possible impact on the client's internalisation process. By greater narrative role-claiming as a leader and articulating one's unique leader identity, coaches can facilitate their client's internal knowledge structure for leading, enhancing both their Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal 35 leadership skill development and their leader effectiveness (Clapp-Smith et al, 2019;Kragt & Day, 2020). In line with observations throughout the leader identity literature (Epitropaki et al, 2017;Kragt & Day, 2020;Miscenko et al, 2017), leadership development, and by extension, executive coaching, can be greatly enhanced by a closer integration of leader identity coaching perspectives within these interventions.…”

“…Several researchers have highlighted that the formation of a leader identity begins in childhood, influenced by the individual's family of origin and their engagement in various sporting activities, community projects and educational endeavours (Clapp-Smith et al, 2019;Hammond et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2019;Murphy & Johnson, 2011). This perspective incorporates a lifebased approach to leader formation where individuals start to establish their ideas (schemas) of what leadership means to them, from their earliest experiences.…”

Managing Leader Identity at Work: A Practice-Oriented Approach

“…The identity of leaders develops along various dimensions, strength, integration, meaning, and levels (personal, relational and collective) which come together to create a leader identity narrative (Clapp-Smith et al, 2019;Hammond et al, 2017). It has been my experience that leaders have a unique leadership related narrative that can help them clarify and strengthen their leader identity provided it is clear, coherent, and credible.…”

Advancing Leadership Education and Development: Integrating Adult Learning Theory

“…Several leadership theorists have written about the importance of a humanistic orientation to learning for leadership effectiveness (Avolio, 1999; Byrne et al, 2018; Clapp-Smith et al, 2019; Conger, 1992; Crossan et al, 2013; Ely et al, 2011; Eriksen, 2009; Kark, 2011; Quigley, 2013; Taylor, 2018; Yukl, 2002). A fundamental tenet of leadership education is that leaders need to know themselves in order to be effective (Bass, 2008) and that this inner work should be a hallmark of any successful developmental program (Gardner et al, 2005).…”