Authentic Leadership Defined

Authentic - Adjective: of undisputed origin, genuine. Synonyms: legitimate, pure, credible. Being authentic implies being reliable and trustworthy. Some managers and leaders start taking on bogus characteristics because they feel pressured to be what they're not. They believe it will help them improve their chances of effectively leading and managing others. Are you being your authentic self, or are you faking it?

"You were born to be real, not to be perfect. You are here to be you, not to live someone else's life." - Ralph Marston.

You can't rub the stripes off the tiger or the spots off the leopard, no matter how hard you try. You are who you are. However, your authentic leadership style may not be effective in some situations. A strength overused can become a weakness. One style of leading doesn't fit all. The key to working with others is communicating and interacting with them how they like. You don't have to change who you are - just modify your approach.

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we truly are." - Brene Brown.

Dr. William Marston believed we are one of four distinct personalities, Dominant, Interpersonal, Steadiness or Conscientious, that heavily influence our behaviour. He ascertained that we become who we are - and act the way we act - at a very young age. We get accustomed to behaving a certain way, communicating and interacting with others a certain way, and managing ourselves and others a certain way that eventually becomes our authentic selves.

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomfort." - Arnold Bennett.

If you want to be more effective in leading or managing others - don't change who you are - change how you do it.

D - Dominant: To be more effective in leading and managing dominant personalities, get to the point quickly, use a rapid pace, and be business-like. Answer the "what" questions.

I - Interpersonal: To lead and manage interpersonal personalities more effectively, be casual and approachable, and establish those all-important relationships. Answer the "who" questions.

S - Steadiness: To be more effective in leading or managing steadiness personalities, establish rapport by being friendly. Use a slower pace. Answer the "how" questions.

C - Conscientious: To lead and manage conscientious personalities more effectively, be reserved and wait for them, limiting your feelings and enthusiasm. Answer the "why" questions.

Copyright (c) 2023. Brian Smith - Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To learn more about DISC and how it can help you and your management team lead or manage others more effectively, regardless of gender or generation, contact Brian at - [email protected] .