Shaping Our Identity: The Dance of Joy and Fear
There is a continuous quest for growth and development in the realm of leadership. Forbes said as of 2019 (four years ago) that, leadership development was a 366 billion dollar industry[1]. Everywhere you turn, leaders are trying to discover how to lead better. It is a journey marked by the pursuit of excellence and the ever-present challenge of expanding one’s leadership capacity. But the more I study leadership, the more I understand that, yes, as leaders, we should constantly pursue improvement, but we must also deal with our identity. Who are we, or better yet, who am I as a leader? What is my identity in the framework of leadership? A quote in the book Rare Leadership says, “Identity is powerful motivation that can be hijacked by fear to create really dangerous people. Identity can also be fueled by joy and transform the world.[2]”
In the realm of leadership, the concept of identity holds a profound influence over individual and collective motivations. As Marcus Warner’s book “Rare Leadership” asserts, identity is not merely a static construct but a dynamic force that can propel individuals and organizations in different directions. This quote highlights one of the critical factors in the book, the transformative power of Identity, and how it can either be misdirected by fear or harnessed by joy to bring about positive change.
This exploration of identity’s role in leadership reminds me of another book, “Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment” by Francis Fukuyama. While his main lens is political identity, Fukuyama provides an analysis of national identity. He suggests, “Identity can be used to divide, but it can and has also been used to integrate.[3]” Currently, it seems as though our prevailing national identity is division dominated by fear, affecting both individual and group identities. Warner’s perspective on the potential dangers and merits of identity, depending on its emotional foundation, is particularly relevant in the context we find ourselves in today. I want to spend some time looking at the quote I gave earlier by Warner “Identity is powerful motivation that can be hijacked by fear to create really dangerous people. Identity can also be fueled by joy and transform the world.[4]”
Identity and Fear:
The first part of Warner’s quote underscores that identity, when under the sway of fear, can lead to dangerous outcomes. This notion resonates strongly with Warner’s exploration of leadership capacity. Fear, a primal emotion, can hijack one’s identity, causing individuals to act in detrimental ways to themselves and their organizations. Leaders operating from a place of fear may exhibit authoritarian tendencies, prioritize self-preservation over team well-being, and resist change. This can lead to a toxic leadership culture and hinder organizational growth.
“Rare Leadership” emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience as antidotes to fear-driven leadership. Leaders who can manage their own fears and those of their teams are better equipped to steer their organizations away from the dangers of Identity hijacked by fear. They foster an environment where open communication, trust, and innovation can thrive.
Identity and Joy:
The second part of the quote is equally profound, identity when infused with joy, holds the potential to transform the world. This perspective aligns closely with Warner’s view of leadership as a force for positive change. When leaders and organizations cultivate a sense of joy in their shared purpose, values, and accomplishments, remarkable transformations become possible.
“Rare Leadership” champions the idea that leaders should inspire joy within their teams, not as a fleeting emotion, but as a lasting sense of fulfillment and meaning derived from shared goals and accomplishments. Joyful leaders create environments where team members feel valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute their best.
The quote is a guiding principle for leaders. It underscores the importance of understanding and shaping identity within organizations. Fear driven identity can lead to destructive leadership, while an identity fueled by joy can inspire positive change and transformation.
As leaders recognizing the transformative potential of identity, we can help become architects of positive change, shaping organizations that are not only successful but also meaningful and fulfilling for their teams and stakeholders.
[1] Westfall, C. (2022, October 12). Leadership development is a $366 billion industry: Here’s why most programs don’t work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2019/06/20/leadership-development-why-most-programs-dont-work/
[2] Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder, Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2016), 241.
[3] Francis Fukuyama, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2020), 183
[4] Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder, Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2016), 241.
14 responses to “Shaping Our Identity: The Dance of Joy and Fear”
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Daron,
Your posts are getting more and more impressive. Your thought process and bringing this all together is really impressive. I appreciate your insight and thoughts. If I could give any advice to you, it would to be, to be more bold. You have great thoughts and ideas that the world needs to hear. You are an intelligent capable of great things.
Let them hear!
Thanks for your complements, Greg! I really appreciate it.
Daron, great assessment of the reality of leadership based on fear and its pitfalls, and the preferred alternative of identity-based, joy-filled (and joy-fueled) leadership. Your blog made me think of Friedman’s “Failure of Nerve” which is another assessment of the shortcomings of leading with fear. How would you include Friedman into your thoughts here?
David, great question. I would speak to Friedman’s idea of a leader’s anxious presence. Friedman argues that many leaders operate on a reactive basis, largely driven by their systems’ anxious responses and emotional reactivity (whether a family, organization, or community). When they’re anxious and reactive, leaders often fail to make decisions that are best for the people or organizations they lead.
Daron, I second Greg. You have a powerful voice my friend. You exude the joy of the Lord in all that you do. Can you identify any specific practices of joy that you use in your leadership context?
Thanks Becca!
To answer your question, I’m unsure if I have identified any specific practices of joy that I use. I find joy in getting to know the people I lead and what makes them tick.
Daron,
Great post. The questions “Who are we?…What is my Identity in the framework of leadership? are profound.
Have you answered this question for yourself to your own satisfaction?
Audrey,
Great question. No, I have not answered the question for myself yet, but it is something that I am constantly asking. What the question has done for me is to help me understand what my identity is not. This shapes my approach and how I respond to leadership challenges.
Daron,
Great post on leading with fear and leading with joy. I love the way you write. Dealing with our identity as leaders can be challenging. I think many leaders are not intentional about their style … letting chips fall where they may … and as a result, end up leading with fear. I think you need to be intentional to lead with joy, personally. Anyway, fabulous post!
Thank you Tonette!
Hi Daron
Great point. The quote is a powerful statement about leadership.
Do you have an example of how your identity as grown as a leader?
I know that I had made terrible decisions as a leader (and in my personal life) when I am filled with fear of possibilities rather than the joy of being with people in a moment.
Chad,
Great question. One of the most powerful ways my identity has grown has been through my mistakes. I have been in the same boat making some terrible decisions based on fear, especially when I was younger. Now I want to be “ruled” by joy. Which is something I am still trying to work out.
Deron,
I enjoyed reading your post.
I am curious-has fear ever been caution for you?
I have been processing some things lately and I am considering if the emotions I am feeling come from a place of fear or from loving caution. I am also wondering if there is a mix of the two. I am praying for grace from those around me who are experiencing “the brakes” I have put on,
Thanks for helping me think a bit!
I pray that you will lead from a secure identity-identity in Christ.
Kristy,
That is an interesting question. Fear has never been a caution for me but it has caused me to be very careless. I have made so many stupid mistakes based on fear, especially when I was younger. It almost cost me my marriage. I notice when I am operating in fear I become like a bull in a china shop and.