Leadership Identity Development Model

After studying numerous leadership theories I have come to think that the LID Model is easy to use and a great tool to help people access where they are in their leadership development. This model helps us recognize how and when our leadership skills are strengthening. After the official LID grounded theory study was conducted it was apparent that there were six stages that a person went through in their leadership growth. Taking a closer look into the model one realizes that a person does not just simply keep moving from one stage through another; one might take their time and go back and repeat a stage in the model. By repeating a stage in the theory this allows a person to get an in depth perspective of the stage. Do you think this model is valid? Do you feel that a person can not only move forward in their leadership but also take steps back and repeat stages of the LID Model? If so has this ever happened to you before?

Throughout the six stages a person morphs from being a dependent being to a strong interdependent individual. Throughout the first few stages a person starts becoming “aware” of the leadership around them and begins to “explore/engage” in activities where leadership is taking place. After spending time in a group a person is able to “identify” the one leader of the pack, it might even be themselves. After taking some time and realizing that there can be more than one person acting as a leader in a group a person learns to “differentiate different leadership roles,” and learns how to interact with all the leaders. After actively participating in their group a person might come to think about the group after they leave. This is where “generatively” steps in. An individual might start to get concerned for the sustainability of the group, who is going to come after them? They start looking for new people to step up to become strong leaders. In the final stage a person takes place in “integration/synthesis.” This is where a person comes full circle and truly understands what it takes to be an effective leader and sees the complexities that go along with it. In this stage an individual might not still be the head leader of the group but is willing to support and help move the group along with their guidance. At this time in your life what stage would you place yourself in? Do you think you have been in this stage for a while, or do you think that you just arrived and have a lot to learn?

Personally I think that this model is great to help me find where I am in my leadership development. Do you find this model is helpful while trying to access your own leadership development or is there too many parts to it? In class we were able to make our own models of the LID theory; do you find your own model to be more useful then the LID Model, why or why not?