LEADERSHIP
A Story About the Future for Authentic Leadership
Leadership is always difficult in challenging times
During challenging times the need for genuine leadership comes to the fore. There’s a spike in demand for authentic leadership as we seek out those with authentic traits.
Humanistic psychologists, rooted in Greek philosophy and psychology, explain that despite the abundance of definitions of authenticity, many confuse it with sincerity (Erickson, 1995).
“Sincerity is the congruence between moral values and feelings” — Lionel Trilling
Sincerity is judged by the extent to which our ‘self’ is represented accurately and honestly to others, not the extent to which one is true to oneself.
This article is about sincere authenticity, a leadership style befitting the challenging times ahead.
Authenticity
Authentic leaders own their personal experience — emotions, thoughts, desires, needs, and preferences — the junction of self-awareness that underpins their true self.
Authentic people express themselves in ways that are consistent and grounded in robust values.
Authentic leaders are hopeful, confident, loyal, optimistic, and exhibit high moral character. They have an acute moral compass, deeply aware of the potential impact of their behaviours on others.
Authenticity spawns from a positive psychological mindset, underpinned by emotional agility. Through a greater level of self-awareness and self-regulation, authentic leaders foster their own personal development.
Make no mistake about it, organisations are built on trust.
Their good nature flows optimistic energy towards others, the collective. Collective development occurs when leaders and followers establish trust, something that can only flourish in a two-way relationship. A connection that’s open, transparent, and genuine for mutual benefit.
Authentic development
Authentic leaders invest in developing 5 key elements:
- Moral perspective
- Self-awareness
- Self-regulation
- Behaviours
- Helping others — follower development
These skills promote psychological capital, enhancing traits like:
- Confidence
- Optimism
- Hope
- Honesty
- Trust
- Resilience
As such, authenticity plays a crucial role to influence and develop individuals and communities to prosper together, collectively.
Authentic community
Moral efficacy, capacity, and courage are the building blocks in a community or organization committed to an ethical and transparent decision-making process for the masses.
Self-regulation is the energy through which authentic leaders align their values, intentions, and actions. Self-awareness is especially relevant in the development of authentic leaders due to the cognitive connection between identity and shared goals in a group setting.
“Authenticity and knowing who you are is fundamental to being an effective and long-standing leader.” — Ann Fudge
Therefore, authentic leaders are acutely aware that without investing in themselves they cannot truly give to others, as authentic leadership is very much about others, period.
Final Thoughts
Leaders and followers develop an exchange-relationship that becomes more authentic over time — trusting and safe. As such, society, organizations and people must seek to promote leaders who encourage an inclusive culture that learns, grows and supports collectively.
They differentiate from charismatic leaders. Those who employ rhetoric to persuade, influence and mobilize others by inventing meaning, real or not, socially constructing reality for themselves and followers.
“Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet — thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing — consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust.” — Lance Secretan
To examine how authentic leaders are viewed, observe their interaction across situations and cultures. It’s a universally prescribed feeling of positivity, the root construct of humanity.
The reality is that we don’t have specific measurement tools to gauge authentic leadership, we simply feel it. We also see it and hear it. We trust our senses when authenticity appears.
Being authentic takes bravery and courage, so don't fear it, embrace it.