In today’s complex world, effective leadership requires more than the mastery of skills and strategies. The core of outstanding leadership is authenticity. According to a study by the Berkley Haas School, authentic leaders are becoming more and more unique. Being authentic is a powerful way to differentiate yourself from your competition and in an ever-changing business landscape, it is important to have authentic leadership that is built to last.
What exactly is authentic leadership? While the definition of this concept has evolved over time and may adopt a different meaning for everyone, many agree that itis simply being yourself — in the workplace, and life in general, It means acting consistently upon your core values so that you can be trusted by your community.
Authentic leadership begins with building trust and vulnerability between yourself and your team members. To build trust in yourself as a leader, itis critical that you are truthful — and that includes admitting when you are wrong or do not have all the answers. In a world where trust is paramount,
authentic and transparent leadership is essential, not just nice to have. You must be able to communicate honestly what you expect from team members, while simultaneously listening to their ideas and concerns about projects or working relationships with the team.
Your leadership brand is made up of a complex dynamic. This includes how you behave, react and interact with different groups or individuals in diverse situations, and how you as a leader interact with others to produce outstanding results. Authentic leadership is a style of leadership that emphasizes the importance of being honest and sincere in your dealings with others.
When we think about authenticity in leadership skills, we must ask ourselves ow do we create authenticity in our leadership style and in our leadership behaviors? There are many possible answers to these questions, but the most common unifying theme is that it takes time, intention, and practice.
Here are several contemplations for being an authentic leader:
- Be truthful and sincere: Authentic leaders find ways to convey their genuine intentions through words and actions. They use transparency and honesty to build trust among team members, eventually transcending it to a larger audience. Authentic leaders have high standards of integrity, take responsibility for their actions, and make decisions based on principle, rather than short-term success.
- Be prepared to be vulnerable: Authentic leaders, like Warren Buffett, Jaime Dimon, Oprah Winfrey, Christine Lagarde, were able to accomplish great things because they were prepared to be vulnerable enough to take risks and make decisions, even if they are unpopular. Authentic leaders often make decisions ahead of their peers, to make change happen. They avoid conforming to others’ opinions and are willing to be exposed and open with employees.
- Be consistent: Authenticity and credibility result when consistency occurs between what you say and do… say what you mean and do what you say! Authentic leaders don’t go around telling people one thing and then do another. Your actions should always match your words. If not, correct it and make it congruent.
- Be clear about your core values: It is important to inspire others with a commitment to a purpose to which you remain faithful. What are the core beliefs that guide how you live your life? What are the guiding principles for how you work? What matters most to you? When people understand what’s important to you, they know where you stand on certain issues or topics, which helps them better understand your decisions and actions.
- Be open-minded: Have an unguarded point of view that allows you to receive different ideas or information without being judgmental. Authentic leaders demonstrate a keen interest in diverse opinions and ideas. They constantly seek input and involve team members in decision making. This inclusive approach fosters employee engagement which leads to employees feeling valued heard, and empowered to contribute.
- Be empathetic: Authentic leaders demonstrate empathy by actively listening and developing reciprocal understanding. Recognize what someone else is feeling or thinking. Authentic leaders seek transformative relationships and a genuine connection built on trust, as well as, a focus on the development and mutual well-being of others.
- Be self-aware: Authentic leadership requires a high level of self-awareness and introspection. Itis important to understand how your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors impact your conduct. It is also important to be able to accurately assess your own strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.” Authentic leaders are masters of recognizing and regulating their emotions.
Authentic leaders bring their whole selves to their jobs and participate fully and honestly in the workplace. Not only does authenticity bring out the best in individuals, it also makes for a stronger team culture and greater productivity overall. Employees’ perception of authentic leadership serves as the strongest predictor of job satisfaction and positively impacts work
related attitudes and happiness.
Authentic leadership does not have to be complicated. |tis an intentional objective that is to be achieved one step at a time, one day at a time, with intention and practice.
