In the corporate world, one question persists: what influences us more — our personal qualities or the role we play at work? The answer isn’t straightforward. Research in leadership and organizational design suggests that each of us is a collection of roles, like costumes, characters, and scripts.
Imagine your role is like a biography. You may have been the “older sibling” or “class clown,” then became the “responsible newbie” at your first job, and eventually, if lucky, the “trusted leader everyone relies on.” When stepping into a new role, you bring all these experiences along. Often, the role itself isn’t a blank slate either. It comes preloaded with the legacy of those who held it before and the image they shaped. People already have expectations of you in that role. It’s like trying on a costume tailored for someone else — rarely a perfect fit. Adjustments take time.
This concept is known as “role contamination.”
A role isn’t just what we bring to a system; it’s also what the system imposes on us. It’s the result of interplay: what existed before us and expectations for what comes next. True leadership begins in this interaction, as you accept a role and create a safe, productive space for your team, using vulnerability, experience, and sincerity to act as the glue.
Leadership is the art of being both a person and a role. As John Bazalgette puts it, a leader doesn’t just guide their team through tasks but fosters human connections akin to the depth of a parent-child relationship.
So, next time you enter a meeting or lead a discussion, remember: your role isn’t just a task list. It’s like an old box you can either clear out and fill with something new or leave as is. Sometimes, the problem isn’t the person but the baggage of past expectations tied to their role.
Articles Mentioned:
- Susan Long, “Role Biography, Role History and the Reflection Group”
- Jane Chapman & Susan Long, “Role Contamination”
- Susan Long, “Drawing from Role Biography in Organisational Role Analysis”
- John Bazalgette, “Leadership — The Impact of the Full Human Being in Role”
