ASPIRATIONALLY, AMY
AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP
Authentic leaders are known for their genuineness, self-awareness, transparency, and their deep connection to their values. They inspire loyalty and trust from their team because they create a safe space for themselves and those around them to learn, grow, and show who they are as people. Authentic leaders hold themselves accountable to continuous improvement and learn from their mistakes. Their relationships with their teammates run deep and are rooted in compassion, communication, and shared purpose.
Authentic leaders are often mission driven and will typically attract like-minded teammates. An authentic leader's ongoing pursuit of professional development means that their professional trajectory is consistently improving. Authentic leadership helps foster trusting working environments among their employees, their peers, their superiors, and their stakeholders. Teams that report to authentic leaders often have high morale and high productivity because they feel empowered to be themselves and do their best work.
The journey to becoming an authentic leader involves a significant investment of time, patience, and commitment to personal development. An authentic leader's constant commitment to self-reflection also requires a level of vulnerability that can undermine their team's and their own confidence in their decision-making abilities. Early-career leaders may find it difficult to fully embody the authentic leadership style when faced with situations in which they must choose between business strategy or staying true to their personal values and principles and risking their careers.
AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES
BE YOUR GENUINE SELF
Don't be afraid to show up at work as your whole self. Make a habit of practicing self-awareness by reflecting on your values, your purpose, and how these shape your character. The more you know yourself, the better you will be at genuinely connecting with others in the workplace.
CREATE A TRUSTING ENVIRONMENT
Get to know your team members personally by meeting with them regularly. This will help you understand their strengths, their interests, and where they could use additional support. If you are kind, honest, and follow through with your promises, and you will earn your team's trust and their commitment to your shared values.
EMBRACE VULNERABILITY AND GROWTH
Take ownership of your weaknesses as well as your strengths, and know when to tap into the skills of your team when it comes to tackling tough projects. Seek out opportunities for improvement and be transparent about where you're at in your growth, which can help inspire those around you to explore their own areas for development.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LEADING AUTHENTICALLY
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REFERENCES
Axe, J. (2022, March 18). What is authentic leadership? Leaders. https://leaders.com/articles/leadership/authentic-leadership/
Forsey, C. (2019, February 13). What's authentic leadership & how do you practice it. Hubspot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/authentic-leadership
Gavin, M. (2019, December 10). Authentic leadership: What it is and why it's important. Harvard Business School Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/authentic-leadership
George, B., Sims, P., McLean, A. N., & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering your authentic leadership. Harvard Business Review, 85(2), 129-138.
Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, February 3). What is authentic leadership? Its components and practice. Indeed. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/authentic-leadership
10 Characteristics of Authentic Leadership. (n.d.). Indeed. https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/authentic-leadership-characteristics