The Leader in the Mirror

Good leaders influencing people to good outcomes understand the importance of identity. How we see ourselves influences how others see us. And how others see us influences how they interact with us. Even more importantly, how we see ourselves influences how we influence others.

In Numbers 13, Caleb saw himself and others as overcomers. Because of this, he encouraged the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land and to occupy it: “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30, KJV).

However, 10 of the other leaders saw themselves as “less than”: “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we” (Numbers 13:31, KJV).

They saw themselves as “less than”: “They brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel” (Numbers 13:32, KJV). Because of this, the 10 leaders discouraged the people from entering the Promised Land.

Identity not only shapes how we see ourselves—it also shapes how we see ourselves relative to others, relative to our circumstances and relative to our challenges. Thus, identity can propel us toward victory or set us up for defeat.

The 10 leaders said of themselves and their opposition, “We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33, KJV). With this view of their identity, no wonder they wanted to return to Egypt.

Joshua and Caleb said of themselves and their opposition, “Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9, KJV). With this view of their identity, no wonder they were ready to enter into the Promised Land to possess it.

Identity is critical to good leadership. Have we discovered our identity? Are we secure in our identity? Do we lead out of our own identity or out of someone else’s definition of who we should be as leaders?

We will now turn our attention to identity. Whether we have discovered our true identity yet or not, those around us are treating us based on who they perceive us to be (i.e., our identity). We will discuss this topic next.