Are You Afraid to Identify as a Leader?

Studies have shown that seeing yourself as a leader is a critical first step on the path towards acting like one. And yet, many people are uncomfortable identifying as leaders. What drives this reluctance? While there are many factors at play, the authors’ recent research highlights the role of reputational fears in deterring people from viewing themselves as leaders. Specifically, they found that fears of seeming domineering, different, or unqualified made people in a variety of workplace and academic settings less likely to identify as leaders, in turn making them less likely to take on leadership responsibilities or be seen as leaders by others. The good news is, the authors also identified several strategies that managers can use to help reduce both the potency and negative impact of these fears, including presenting leadership as less risky, explicitly challenging negative stereotypes related to leadership, and making it clear through words and actions that leadership is a skill anyone can develop, rather than an innate ability.