Authenticity: Is this required for a "real" Leader?
- Mar 1, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 2, 2024
Or rather, is this all "pretence" or "disingenuousness"?
In truth, each leader is an individual, and their purpose for being a leader will influence their behaviour.
Having been a leader in several organisations and leading a diverse number of teams, I have found being an authentic leader a must-do.
Well, what does being authentic mean? There are many definitions, but I found the Vocabulary.Com one to be really good, i.e. "Authenticity is the quality of being genuine or real".
So, what does this really mean for me personally? Being an authentic leader means:
Staying true to who I am, evolving as a leader, but not changing myself to meet everyone's expectations of me
Showing my "real self", not a projected image I would like the world to see
Leading by example, being prepared to do everything I would expect my team to do
Ensuring I am there to guide and protect my team
Understanding that I am not perfect every moment of every day and yes, I will make mistakes
If things are not going well, admit it and accept help from the people around you
What does being an authentic leader mean to you?