Whether a leader wants others to draw inferences about them or not, people interpret everything they do as evidence about who they really are.
Their character, personality traits, values, and tendencies are revealed to others with every breath and action. Over time, people draw distinctive conclusions as to what makes a leader tick and who they are on the inside.
The identity a leader projects influences how people respond to them. This projected image has a profound impact on how others come to trust, believe in, and react to leaders.
Despite the repercussions of the identity they project through their actions, many leaders haven’t given much thought to the image they desire others to have of them. This is a big miss.
The best leaders take the time to consider the many facets of their self-image and which ones they most want to imprint through their actions, messages, and choices.
Do they want to be seen as smart? Creative? Analytical? Responsible? Compassionate? Wise?
The easy answer is to compose a long list of the many fine qualities they believe they have or would like to possess. But there is no way to consistently project so many favorable images.
So, the best bet is to keep the list small and tight.
Decide exactly what is most important for you to be seen as.
The options are nearly limitless. Strong? Family-oriented? Skillful? Expert? Strategic? Caring? A great listener? Think deeply about the identity you want to project and narrow the possibilities to a small set.
Three or four qualities would be best. Don’t confuse what you value and what identity you want others to conclude about you.
While these ideas overlap, they can also be quite different. For instance, you may not value the importance of vision more than other qualities, but might decide that being viewed as a visionary has a big upside.
Once you have landed on the identities you want others to grant you, the real work begins. Examine your behaviors, messages, decisions, and actions.
Do they project the image and identity you desire? In moments of stress, pressure, and conflict, are you still able to act in accordance with the identities you want to project?
Leaders often think they project an image when that identity is not reflected in their behavior. Just because you value and believe you are compassionate doesn’t mean you act compassionately in the eyes of others.
Your behaviors and choices must reflect the identity you most desire, or people will draw other conclusions. Some leaders believe being so intentional about identity projection borders on being overly strategic or even manipulative.
They miss the point that people around them will draw these inferences whether they want them to or not. It’s what humans do to give them a sense of predictability and control.
A leader who chooses not to align their behaviors with the identities they hold dear leaves those interpretations to chance or caprice. This means others will likely view them very differently from how they view themselves.
Remember, people will respond and engage based upon who they see you to be, not who you believe you are. Identity and self-image are essential building blocks for how people come to trust, care, and believe in leaders.
The more thoughtful you are about how you want to be seen and what behaviors and choices will get you there, the more influential you are likely to become.
The good news is that no one can project a false image over time. Who you are and what you project to others become the same thing as people experience you.
Ask yourself this: What images and identities are you imprinting through your behaviors? Is that the identity you were hoping for?
