Understanding and Developing Your Leader Identity Mandeep Rupra-Daine NUS Equality & Diversity Consultant

In this session, you will: Recognise the need to develop a leader identity Explore the values that are fundamental to yourself as a leader Consider your leadership purpose Begin to become clearer about your leader identity Aspire

Do you see yourself as a leader?

Seeing yourself as a leader   Seeing yourself as a leader

stereotypes that are associated with men’s leadership and behaviour gender stereotypes = leadership styles Frank Flynn 2003 – ‘Although they think she’s just as competent and effective as Howard, they don’t like her, they wouldn’t hire her, and they wouldn’t want to work with her. They disliked Heidi’s aggressive personality. The more assertive they thought Heidi was, the more harshly they judged her - but the same was not true for those who rated Howard’.

Aspiring women leaders therefore should recognise themselves as a leader by understanding and creating a leader identity that is both authentic, accessible and founded on their values and purpose.  

What is leader identity? Being a leader involves more than being given a leadership role or job title Sexism and lack of women in leadership roles perpetuate men as leaders INSEAD 2012 research: Me, a Women & a Leader Women experience identity conflict which prevents them from feeling authentic Women question their leadership Identity conflict is associated with more stress and lower life satisfaction Identity conflict undermines women’s affective motivation to lead

Leadership is: ‘about bringing out the best in ourselves and others. It is not position; it is a state of mind or attitude about how we choose to live that inspires others to follow and helps them achieve their full potential.’

See yourself as a leader How will developing a leadership identity benefit you?

Leader Identity Your values Your beliefs Your purpose Your strengths who you uniquely are essential -brings you alive a strong belief we carry everyday operating principle help decisions and priorities Your beliefs Your purpose Your strengths

Values

Purpose What difference you want to make Founded on your values = authentic leadership Knowing why you do what you do This could mean doing things you don’t like! Inspiring purpose helps you to keep going when things get tough

NUS Equality & Diversity Consultant Thank You Mandeep Rupra-Daine NUS Equality & Diversity Consultant mandeep@nus.org.uk