If you are like me, the road to becoming an authentic leader is hard.
It is so easy to give the appearance of a persona to the outside world that is different to what you show your staff and even your loved ones.
However being authentic is key if you are to build a sustainable business. Why?
So let me break down what I feel are the key steps to helping you to develop yourself as an authentic business leader.
- Self-Awareness: This is number one and key. YOUR MUST KNOW YOURSELF. Authentic leaders have a deep understanding of themselves, including their values, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. They are honest with themselves and others about who they are. Let me ask you a question. Who do you have around you to stop you becoming the 'emperor with no cloths on' and tell you who you really are?
- Transparency and clarity: Authentic leaders are transparent in their communication and decision-making processes. They are open about their intentions, values, and beliefs, fostering trust and credibility among their team members. Remember this is key to building TRUST with your team and stakeholders. Those who follow me will know the importance I place on becoming a leader who is trustworthy. Check out my newsletter on this subject here if you want to know more about trust: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/building-trust-leader-dr-wayne-wright/?trackingId=cBPciz4aSMq6GAzrjLi%2FXQ%3D%3D
- Consistency: Building on the above. Be consistent in your words and actions. Authentic leaders demonstrate consistency in their behaviour, decisions, and treatment of others, which in turn helps to earn respect and admiration from their team. I want to emphasise the importance of the 'treatment of others'. We must show everyone that we treat them the same way, when they perform, and when they do not perform. There should be no 'favourites' in business!!
- Empathy: Authentic leaders demonstrate empathy and compassion toward others. The key here is to actively listen (which is hard) to their team members, seeking to understand their perspectives, and supporting them in their personal and professional growth. I will push out another newsletter one day on the subject of active listening. Sometimes what you are being told is not the root of the issue.
- Integrity: Again, another subset of the trust mandate for authentic leaders. It is critical to uphold high ethical standards and act with integrity in all your dealings. Doing the right things, even when it's difficult or unpopular, will earn the trust and loyalty of your team, customers and stakeholders.
- Humility and looking out for others: Authentic leaders are humble, in the sense that they are not seeking glory and a persona that they are some fantastic business celebrity. As a leader be modest, acknowledging your limitations and mistakes in the appropriate moments. But more importantly look out for others and give credit where it's due, as well as celebrating their achievements.
- Courage: Authentic leaders have the courage to speak up for what they believe in, even in the face of adversity. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo, take calculated risks, and stand up for their values. Nobody wants to follow a 'compromised' leader.
- Accountability: We touched on this briefly before in No.1. Who do you have around you to tell you if you are behaving like an idiot! Having good business people (advisors, coaches, non-executive directors) that you can call upon to tell you the hard truth, and to speak into your situation is super important.
By embodying these attributes, business leaders can cultivate authenticity in their leadership approach, fostering trust, respect, and engagement among their team members and stakeholders.
Our online leadership 360 review seeks to help leaders have a qualitative and quantitively assessment of their authenticity. Reach out if you want to know more here.
