Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2019

Publication Title

Journal of Management Education

Volume

43

Issue Number

1

First Page

10

Last Page

34

DOI

10.1177/1052562918813190

ISSN

1052-5629

Keywords

leader identity, multidomain leadership development, identity narrative, leadership development

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

Empirical research suggests that 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, multidomain 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 subidentities, 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.

Comments

This is the preprint of an article published in the Journal of Management Education, volume 43, issue 1, 2019. The Version of Record is available online at this link: https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562918813190.

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