The "being" leadership story

While both men and women feel like "they have always been leaders" (being lens) and "a leader when others see me as one" (accepting theme), women feel like leaders when they are actively 'doing' (the engaging lens). Men rely more on the performing lens, meaning t...

Leaders who use this lens didn't consider themselves as leaders until they realized others were following them. People came to them for answers, guidance, and support.

This group tends to supporting or serving the needs of others above themselves, often with a low-key atti...

Leaders who use this lens think their leadership started when they were compelled to address an urgent need. They took it upon themselves to change unsatisfactory practices: starting a new organization, volunteering to take on a challenge, liaising between groups in conflict.

Leaders who use this lens think their leadership rose out of the achievement of a particular position. They often feel protective and responsible for their teams.

They describe themselves as having paternalistic leadership styles, marked by the support, control, and guidan...

There is a strong link between the stories people tell about becoming leaders and their current leadership. Using only one lens could limit your ability.

• Seeing yourself only as accepting, your identity may be tied to others' perceptions, and you may hold back unless you're "asked" t...

Stories of origin come in many forms - how we became part of an organization, or how we emerged as a new person after a crisis.

However, we seldom examine what we include and exclude in those accounts and how our choices shape our present reality.