Map your identity to reach your fullest potential
In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex world, I have come to realize that knowing our unique strengths [Power of personal leadership], how we perform best [Be the CEO of your career], our core values, where we truly fit in [Corporate culture], and what our contribution should be - is essential to our professional success and our effectiveness as leaders.
The alignment of these elements throughout our career is critical not only for our personal development and fulfillment, but also for building our credibility and making a meaningful impact. When these aspects are in harmony, we are better equipped to identify roles that suit us best, create value in the right contexts, and thrive in organizational cultures that support our growth.
One powerful tool that helps bring clarity to these areas is Ingram’s identity mapping, which offers a structured way to explore and align our strengths, values, working style, and leadership approach with our authentic selves.
How to build our identity map?
According to Paul Ingram, an identity map is a simple yet powerful tool that enables us to identify, visualize, and ultimately leverage the many interconnected elements that make up our sense of who we are. These elements include our values, roles, culture, personality traits, and life experiences - all of which influence how we show up as a person and leader.
A critical aspect of building our identity map is ensuring alignment between our self-perception and how others perceive us. For instance, if we identify as an athlete but lack the physical attributes or behaviors typically associated with athleticism, others may not see us that way. This gap between internal identity and external perception can undermine our credibility. Therefore, authenticity and consistency across both dimensions are essential - especially in leadership, where trust and influence hinge on how well others believe in our identity.
As Ingram emphasizes: “You have more control over your identity than you may realize. You can curate it in ways that will improve your performance as a leader, the trust you’re able to inspire in others, and even your overall well-being.”
Ultimately, our identity map becomes a strategic tool - helping us lead with greater clarity, build authentic relationships, expand our network based on shared values, and develop in ways that are both intentional and aligned with who we truly are.
How does Ingram’s identity mapping enhance leadership?
Ingram’s identity mapping helps us gain deep clarity about our core identity. It guides us to align our values with our actions and to lead in ways that are true to our most authentic selves.
When we achieve this kind of alignment, we gain the trust and confidence of our teams. People naturally follow leaders who are grounded, clear in their principles, and act with integrity.
Beyond that, the identity map serves as a reflective tool over time. It helps us spot patterns - such as overconfidence, risk-aversion, or burnout - that may undermine our effectiveness. It also ensures that leadership decisions remain aligned with both our personal values and our organization’s mission and culture.
From insight to action: two leadership journeys
Let’s look at two contrasting leaders - Emma and Alex - to see how identity mapping can shape leadership in real-world situations.
Emma: leading with clarity and authenticity
Emma leads a marketing team facing declining customer engagement. Morale is low, and the team feels uncertain about its direction.
She turns to her identity map for guidance. It reminds her of her core strengths - visionary thinking, strategic insight, and empathy - and of the values that ground her: integrity, growth, and empowerment. Her leadership style is transformational: she inspires a shared vision and empowers others to grow, while staying true to the company’s broader mission.
Rather than defaulting to control or micromanagement, Emma calls a collaborative brainstorming session. She reconnects the team with the company's vision and invites each team member to own a part of the new engagement strategy. She also ensures that all proposed changes align with ethical marketing and long-term sustainability.
The result? The team feels reenergized. Engagement improves. Innovation flows again. Emma’s authentic leadership has restored clarity, trust, and momentum.
Alex: losing his way under pressure
Now contrast Emma’s approach with Alex’s.
Alex is a naturally collaborative and visionary CEO. He’s known for inspiring teams and sparking innovation. But under pressure from the board, he abandons his usual style and adopts a rigid, top-down approach that feels unnatural - to him and to those around him.
The effects ripple quickly: trust erodes, innovation stalls. His once-energized team becomes risk-averse and disengaged. Turnover rises. Performance suffers. Eventually, Alex loses credibility with both his employees and the board.
What went wrong? Alex acted out of alignment with his core leadership identity - people noticed. Inconsistency created confusion and undermined both morale and outcomes. Company culture began to fracture - and results followed.
Staying grounded: how leaders avoid these pitfalls
The key is intentional, ongoing self-reflection. Great leaders regularly revisit their strengths, values, leadership style, and aspirations. They understand that identity is not static. As we grow, so does our understanding of ourselves and the impact we can make.
Ingram’s identity mapping provides us with a powerful, practical framework for that reflection. It helps us stay grounded in what we do best, in environments where we thrive, and where we can contribute meaningfully.
When we lead from a place of alignment - with clarity, confidence, and purpose - we bring out the best in ourselves and those around us.
Final thoughts
In a world of constant change and increasing complexity, knowing ourselves isn’t a luxury - it’s a leadership imperative.
Ignoring our personal leadership strengths can lead to disengaged teams, misaligned strategies, and lost opportunities. Leadership isn’t just about what we do - it’s about who we are and how consistently our actions reflect that.
Leaders who understand and align their strengths, values, and leadership style build trust, drive performance, and shape resilient, empowered cultures. Ingram’s identity mapping provides the insight and structure to lead not only with skill, but with authenticity.
