Social Identities and their Effect
on your Leadership
Dr. Jo Yudess
Purpose of the Session
Each of these identities has an effect
on how we act as leaders. Today we
will determine some of your identities
and explore how they affect the style,
manner, and thinking processes you
use when leading yourself or others.
First: About Leadership
• How many of you consider
yourselves leaders?
• Leadership is not a role – it is a state
of mind.
What are social identities?
…ways in which we are distinct
from and similar to others.
… combinations of aspects of
ourselves that make us part of
various social groups.
Some examples …
• Age
• Nationality
• Role
(And many, many more!)
So what?
Misunderstanding and
miscommunication are more likely
when we interact with people in
groups other than our own.
How do we use Social Identities?
• To categorize people
• To identify ourselves with groups
• To compare our groups with other
groups – usually thinking more
highly of our own groups
Tajfel & Turner (1979)
Definition:
“If your actions inspire others
to dream more, learn more, do
more and become more, you
are a leader.”
John Quincy Adams
1767-1848
(Or Dolly Parton)
(Or Bill Clinton)
(Or Peyton Manning)
Components of Identity
•
•
•
•
Given identity – no choice
Chosen identity
Core identity – your uniqueness
Hidden identity
Adapted from: Center for Creative Leadership
http://site.ebrary.com/id/10193832?ppg=12
SOME Social Identities
Age
Beliefs
Blindness
Body type
Clothing
Communication skills
Conflict starter/resolver
Country of origin
Critical thinking ability
Culture
Customs and traditions
Deafness
Economic status, Income
Education
Emotionalism
Empathy
Experience
Eyes color/shape
Feelings
Gender
Hair
type/color/style
Height
Job, Work
Kindness
Language
Listening skills
Living conditions
Marital status
MBTI
Physical
appearance
Physically impaired
Problem-solving
ability
Race, Ethnicity
Recreational choices
Religion
Self-awareness
Sexual orientation
Skin type/color
Social class
Sports
ability/knowledge
Talents
Team player
Thoughts
Values
Weight
From the list of social identities:
• Underline those
that are most
important to
you
• Choose two or
three to work
with
For each of the selected identities
• Write the
• Write the
benefits of this
challenges this
identity for your
identity brings
leadership.
to your
leadership.
• Share with a person near
you.
• Discuss how you might
overcome the
challenges.
• Discuss whether you
ever hide one of these
identities because of the
context or situation.
How else do these identities impact
you?
•
•
•
•
•
Access to resources
Access to authorities
Directing your own or other’s work
Decision making
Ability to influence others
Some things to do when leading
different identities
• Regular contact with others
• Rotate work to soften boundaries
• Foster organization identity
• Share status
• Empower others to be leaders
• Inclusive environment
• Take action on issues
Adapted from: Center for Creative Leadership
http://site.ebrary.com/id/10193832?ppg=12
Above all
Be aware of your own social
identity issues and challenges
and remember to value
everyone.
Thank you very much!
Dr. Jo Yudess
Chase 231 and Tech Building 223
878-3209 and 878-3672
yudessja@buffalostate.edu
@Jamry7 on Twitter
Jo A. Yudess on LinkedIn and FaceBook
Blogs: Creativity Rulz
http://dr-jo-yudess.blogspot.com/
Looking for Leadership
http://yudessleadership.blogspot.com/
Running aMOOC
http://moocland.blogspot.com/