Leadership identity isn’t built alone—it’s co-created through belonging.

As part of my MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology, I investigated the impact of Social Identity Leadership in both a business environment and a high-performance sport academy.

Using the well-established 3R Model (Reflect, Represent, Realise) developed by Haslam, Reicher, and Platow, and extended by Slater and Barker, I delivered a leadership development programme focused on building shared group identity, cohesion, and purpose.

• Leaders who deeply engaged with the identity of their teams saw significant improvements in group task cohesion.
• Reflecting on shared values and purpose created clarity, unity, and trust.
• Leaders who failed to involve their teams in the process saw a drop in cohesion—highlighting that identity must be co-created, not imposed.
• Social identity, leadership identity, and mental well-being were moderately correlated, supporting existing theory that belonging is key to resilience and performance.

My work draws from a robust foundation of evidence, including:

• Haslam, Reicher & Platow (2011) – The New Psychology of Leadership
  Leadership is a group process rooted in shared identity.
• Slater & Barker (2019) – The 3R and 5R Models
  Practical pathways to help leaders build and embed identity in real teams.
• Butalia et al. (2025) – Cross-Cultural Sport Leadership
  Identity-aligned leaders consistently improve cohesion and effort.
• Sarkar & Fletcher (2016, 2017) – Resilience in Elite Sport
  Resilience is socially constructed. Belonging builds psychological strength.
• Matt Slater – Togetherness
  Performance comes from unity, not individualism.
• Owen Eastwood – Belonging
  Identity is what holds people through pressure, change, and uncertainty.
• Damian Hughes – The Barcelona Way
  Values-driven leadership isn't abstract—it’s daily, embedded behaviour.
• Sir Alex Ferguson – Leading
  The world’s best cultures are built on connection, not control.

Today, I bring this research into leadership programmes, workshops, and consultancy through my framework:
The Identity Leadership System.

Whether I’m supporting a corporate leadership team, coaching athletes, or helping organisations reset their culture, the principle is the same:
Leadership is about building a stronger “us.”

I help leaders:

• Reflect on who they are to their team
• Represent shared values through daily action
• Realise that identity in systems, rituals, and performance behaviours

• [Lead With Us →] Leadership development programmes for teams and organisations
• [The Us Effect →] Keynotes, webinars, and content on the science of identity and belonging
• [Leading From the Inside Out →] Deep-dive leadership development for senior leaders
• [The Identity Leadership System →] My core framework for building performance through belonging

If you’re building a culture, leading a team, or rethinking how leadership works in your world—
this work can help.

Let’s have a conversation about how Social Identity Leadership could shape your future.