Authentic leadership is a style of leadership that emphasizes the alignment of internal values and beliefs with external behavior. When leaders are authentic, they bring their whole selves to the workplace, making life decisions that reflect their ethics, values, and personality. Authenticity helps build trust, leading to engaged, enthusiastic, motivated employees and psychologically safe cultures.
The importance of authentic leadership lies in its ability to create a culture of respect and trust. People are more likely to trust leaders who are true to themselves, and this trust makes it possible to get things done. Organizations that foster authentic behavior are more likely to have engaged, enthusiastic, motivated employees and psychologically safe cultures. In contrast, inauthenticity can often be recognized by others and become a disruptive, negative force, adding to uncertainty, distrust, and a lack of passion among employees.
Being a phony is hard work. Managers who struggle with inauthenticity often find themselves depleted, losing interest in their work, and experiencing low levels of job satisfaction. It takes a lot of energy to behave in ways that are out of sync with our true values, priorities, hopes, characteristics, and leadership style. The energy expended trying to come across as something you are not is energy unavailable for work and other activities.
What guides an authentic leader? Authentic leaders are those who are true to themselves and the principles that guide them. Although they may be in charge, their principles ultimately govern them, and people ultimately matter. For authentic leaders, building character and culture is a function of aligning their beliefs and behaviors with the principles of the organization. Authentic leaders have the integrity and skills to make the right choices when necessary.
To become a more authentic leader, there are several steps you can take. First, rethink your “leadership image.” A sincere passion and desire to learn and change is what building a leadership image is all about. Consider the gap between the image that others have of you and the image you would like to project. A big obstacle to authenticity is a strong need to maintain a certain image. Often, gaining awareness of your current image and leadership brand goes a long way. But before you make any changes, be sure to get a good, truthful picture of your current image.
Second, increase your self-awareness. A key component of behaving authentically is to understand what you care about most. Try these ways to boost your self-awareness. What are your values, likes, dislikes, and weaknesses? This might sound simple, but we often avoid or overlook the process of clarifying what’s most important to us. Consider asking yourself questions like, what is my current skill level and knowledge related to the role? Or, how would others view my performance so far?
Third, assess and evaluate. Once you have established your values, likes, dislikes, and weaknesses, you can better understand how aligned your behaviors are with your values and ethics. Assess what you have already given up, and be clear on what’s most important to you now and what you will and will not do to get there. Remember, there are no “right” trade-offs to make, and your choices will likely change at various points in your life. Set goals for yourself that are aligned with your values.
Fourth, take action, but get support. Make a change in your life, but don’t do it alone. Enlist the support of a coach or mentor who can help guide you through the process of becoming more authentic. Consider joining a peer group or network of leaders who share your values and are committed to living authentically.
Takeaway
Authenticity is not only a desirable trait, but a crucial component of effective leadership. It involves a harmonious alignment between your innermost values and beliefs, and your external actions and behavior. Authentic leaders are able to inspire and motivate their followers because they are genuine, transparent, and consistent in their words and actions.
Furthermore, authentic leadership begins with a deep understanding of one’s own values, ethics, and personality. It requires a commitment to making life decisions that are consistent with these beliefs, and a willingness to stay true to oneself even in the face of challenges and adversity.
Ultimately, being an authentic leader means building strong, meaningful relationships with your followers, based on trust, mutual respect, and empathy. It means creating a positive organizational culture that fosters collaboration, creativity, and innovation, and inspires everyone to achieve their full potential.
In today’s rapidly changing and complex business environment, authentic leadership is more important than ever before. By embracing your true self and leading with authenticity, you can make a meaningful impact not only in your own life, but in the lives of those around you as well.