Think back
for a minute about the best leader you ever had. What was it that made them
memorable? How did they differ from leaders you had before, or from those
you’ve had since? If someone immediately comes to mind, chances are it’s
because they were an authentic leader.
“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.”
– Dr. Lance Secretan
Too often
people are thrust into a leadership role by virtue of their tenure or
performance and are not given the benefit of learning how they, as a leader,
can be most effective. In the absence of learning how they can apply their true
selves to the role, they become the leader they’ve observed in others
(effective or not) or that they think they should be.
So how do you
become an authentic leader? Here are 6 tips.
Know yourself. Develop a deep
understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, how you lead, and how you
respond to situations and people around you. Know your communication style so
you can adapt it as needed to better connect with others. Where are you most
comfortable in the four dimensions of leadership – leading with vision, leading
to deliver, leading with drive or leading through people?
Know your people. Take the time to
learn their strengths and development areas. Listen empathically to their
ideas, concerns, feedback. How do they like to be rewarded? What are their
personal and career goals? Find out their communication style preferences.
Be honest. Always. Tell the truth, even
when you’d rather not. Allow yourself to be vulnerable – share mistakes and
what you learned from them. Give honest, productive feedback on a regular
basis. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Develop a shared vision. Employees are
more likely to help with the journey if they were involved in selecting the
destination. Seek out their input.
Walk the talk. Do what you say you’re
going to do. Be available and approachable and encourage open discussion to
deal with differences and share ideas. Be fair. Listen.
“Check in” daily. What are the 3 - 5
words that best describe the qualities you use as a leader and as the leader
you want to be? Several times a day, every
day, stop and ask yourself if your behaviors, actions and decisions are
congruent with those words.
The more
authentic you are as a leader, the more influence and trust you will have with
your people, and the greater impact you will have in your organization.
Lead on,
Rebecca
