Authentic Leadership - We hold the answers to unlocking our leadership potential
Sounds so simple, but is it? The key to unlocking our leadership potential lies in understanding ourselves! Bill George, the author of True North, Discovering Your Authentic Self, writes ‘Your True North [his term for being authentic] is based on your most cherished values, your passions and motivations, and the sources of satisfaction in your life. When you follow your True North, your leadership will be authentic, and people will naturally want to associate with you.’ Below are four characteristics of Authentic Leaders:
Self-Awareness: Authentic leaders possess a strong sense of self and are deeply aware of their strengths and opportunities. This awareness aids in overall leadership, delegation, and empowerment of others. If you read my last blog, Starting 2023 with Strengths, you have already unlocked steps to get started! In Drew Carver’s article on authentic leadership, he states ‘Becoming a leader does not require adopting a new persona; it means amplifying your true self with focus and discipline. The key is to be authentic—to draw from one’s own experiences, values, and strengths.’
Clear Sense of Purpose: Authentic leaders are clear on their values and stay true to them in all interactions. This clear sense of purpose makes them approachable and trusted by the individuals they lead. The Center for Creative Leadership states, ‘People who have an authentic leadership style bring their whole selves to their jobs and participate fully and honestly in the workplace. Organizations that foster authentic behavior are more likely to have engaged, enthusiastic, motivated employees and psychologically safe cultures.’
Servant Leadership: Authentic leaders focus on the success of the individuals they lead. A measure of success for an authentic leader is when one of their team moves beyond their current role. Authentic leaders are empathetic and realize the value and unique perspective of each of the individuals on their team. Forbes notes ‘Authentic leaders are able to inspire others through kindness, flexibility, support, and empowerment. When you treat others with compassion you cultivate people who want to work for you not because of what you do but because of who you are.’
Continuous Learning: Authentic leaders crave feedback and continuous learning. They leverage formal and informal feedback mechanisms to understand how to best serve their teams and organizations. They evaluate feedback based on the alignment of their values. They learn from their life experiences and leverage these learnings to continue to evolve.
As you consider the characteristics above, the good news is that you do not need to be in a leadership role to be an authentic leader. This is a mindset, not a title, and determines how you build connections and go about your work. The first step on this journey is to begin with a clear understanding of self and purpose. A great way to do this is to complete the Strengths Finder assessment. Following this, spend time focusing on defining your vision and purpose. Then leverage your community of peers and friends to support your discoveries and put your learnings into action!
Additional Resources on Authentic Leadership:
5 Tips to Become an Authentic Leader (northwestern.edu)
True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership | Bill George
