6 Ways to Become an Authentic Leader

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