Leading With Authenticty
It's time to discover your authentic leadership purpose and develop skills for building inclusive relationships that create lasting change. All successful projects happen because of strong leadership. Leaders have a vast array of approaches, I believe the best leaders emphasize authenticity in the following ways.
Authentic leaders practice cultural humility. They are curious about the background and experiences of others. They use this information to cultivate their interactions with team members, understanding that each team member is unique and most have their own personal connection with the leader.
Authentic leaders function as trusted advisors. They build credibility, reliability, and intimacy through professional competence, consistent delivery, and personal connection. They develop a genuine focus on individuals rather than just a role or transaction. They prioritize the relationship over immediate outcomes, providing reassurance and confidence while addressing both rational and emotional needs.
Authentic leaders thoughtfully navigate conflict, display empathy, and create safety within conflict situations. Authentic leaders successfully bring people onto their side of the table, working to solve problems together as opposed to battling across a table.
Authentic leaders are great coaches. They help team members to create development goals that meet both the needs of the organization, and the professional development needs of the individual.
Authentic leaders are masters of influence. They understand there are an array of tools available to drive action for both individuals and groups that go far beyond just personal motivation. They tap into these influence skills to help groups achieve outcomes beyond their expectations.
Authentic leaders are intentional about developing talent for their organization. They help their organizations identify the competencies needed to be an effective leader and help to design the experiences to help people develop those competencies.
The authentic leader stands apart from other leaders because they achieve enhanced business results through an intentional focus on people. It's time to fully embrace leading with authenticity.
