A Truth About Leadership Identity And Masks

What You Can Never Hide From

I have talked about Identity in Leadership in the Past.

As a Leader, it is incredibly Important to Understand both your own Identities and the Identities of those we Lead.

Yes “Identities” is Purposefully Plural.

We all carry different types of Identities.

Some are Great and Help Us, and others Do Not.

Quite literally, We “All” Wear Masks.

Now, Masks are not Inherently Good or Bad.

In some Cultures, Masks are used as a way to Embody and Focus on specific Aspects, Qualities, or Traits.

These types of Masks are often used to Accentuate Positive Things.

For instance, a Lion Mask may be used to Focus someone on a Lion’s Strength and Powerful Roar as a way to Embody a Booming Voice.

In other Cultures, Masks are used as a way to Hide Aspects, Qualities, or Traits that people want to keep Hidden.

Classically this happens with figures who break the “Rules” and Do Not want Others to Know their Identity.

Whether they are a Thief for Good or Ill, or even a Superhero.

This Hiding Mask is also seen in figures like the Phantom of the Opera who Uses the Mask to Hide their Disfiguration.

In Leadership, we often find both of these types of Masks.

There have been many Leaders who “Put on a Mask”, while committing Terrible Crimes.

It is often stated by others that, “They would Never have guessed that about that Leader.”

Other, More Positive, Leaders may typically have a Quiet Demeanor…

Until they Stand in Front of a Meeting, or get on Stage, and Suddenly, they Captivate a Room with a Powerful and Commanding Presence.

Both of these types of Leaders are wearing Masks to Different Effects.

As I said, Everyone Wears Masks, for Good and Bad Reasons.

However, there is something Important that All Leaders need to Understand about Masks.