Leadership advice often skips the most important part.
We jump straight into the tactics — priorities, meetings, systems, frameworks.
But strategy without identity is like trying to build a house on shifting ground.
It might hold for a while. It might even look impressive on the outside.
But eventually, the cracks show.
Here’s what I’ve seen over and over:
When a leader loses clarity on who they are, they lose clarity everywhere else too.
Decisions get harder.
Confidence gets shakier.
Direction gets foggy.
Pressure gets heavier.
People don’t follow the leader you’re trying to be.
They follow the leader you are on the inside.
Identity isn’t a personality profile.
It’s the truth that anchors you.
Earlier in my career, I relied on talent — quick thinking, intuition, grit.
But talent can’t hold the weight of leadership forever.
When I learned to anchor myself in identity — who I really am, who I’m becoming — everything shifted.
Identity gave me something strategy never could: a foundation.
If you feel scattered, unclear, or stretched…
Don’t start with a better strategy.
Start with a stronger identity.
Reflection Questions
- What part of your identity feels unsettled right now?
- Who are you when the title and expectations are stripped away?
If you want to strengthen your leadership identity heading into 2026, let’s talk.
One Intentional Move 