High impact leaders are authentic.

Note: This week's Blue-Collar Leadership? Tips newsletter features content from Ria Story, Leadership Speaker, Author, Trainer .

“Gems are mined and discovered. They definitely can’t shine without light. There is power in the light you draw in as well as what you radiate. The desire is for you to be brilliant." ~ Brad Milford

Leaders are like diamonds. They are unique and individual. No two are just alike. They are rare, very valuable, formed under pressure, and are very strong.

The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning tough, unbreakable, or indestructible. As my husband Mack says, “Shiny objects get noticed. So do shiny people.”

Don’t be afraid to shine bright in your areas of strength, but relative to your character, don’t neglect to develop your areas of weakness.

“The authentic self is the soul made visible.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Authenticity is a paradox.

Merriam-Webster defines paradox as, “…a person, situation, or action having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.”

There is a paradox in authenticity because we all want authenticity in everything and everyone else, but we struggle to be authentic ourselves.

Authenticity requires us to be vulnerable. And, vulnerability is commonly, and incorrectly, perceived as a “weakness.”

Authenticity is not a weakness. It’s a great strength.

Only a strong person can make visible his or her soul and be confidently unashamed of what is found there. Not because they are perfect, but because they acknowledge they are not, although they are striving to be better.

Because authenticity builds trust, it is priceless when it comes to relationships and leadership.

When it comes to influence, those who are genuine, real, honest, and upfront with us have a lot of influence with us because we know we can trust them. Their word is worth something because we know they are always honest. We may not always like what they have to say because sometimes the truth isn’t easy to hear. But, we always value that we can count on it being truthful.

Authenticity requires a fine balance between tact and truth, but both should be respected equally. Being authentic is a choice to be true to your core values, your self, and to honor that in your relationships with other people.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” ~ Brené Brown

There is an incredible amount of pressure on those who are in a formal leadership position to conform to society’s standard of what an “ideal” leader looks and acts like.

The “ideal” leader doesn’t admit mistakes, doesn’t get emotional, doesn’t build relationships, isn’t afraid of conflict, and doesn’t have any problem balancing his or her role as parent, spouse, and person, with his or her role as manager, CEO, or business owner. The worst of it is the misconception that your role as a leader takes priority over your role as person.

To be blunt, that’s B.S!

No, not that “B.S.”

I mean it’s a Belief System. And, it doesn’t serve anyone.

Who you are as a person defines who you are as a leader. Your greatest strength as a leader is to be true to yourself and let your own natural leadership style shine.

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Mack and Ria Story are the co-founders of Blue-Collar Leadership? and provide uniquely designed content specifically created for the blue-collar workforce and those who lead and support them.

Mack and Ria began speaking together in 2013 and have published 34 books. They have spoken at Yale University's School of Management, at the U.S. Capitol, for the U.S. Military, for many small companies and for many multi-billion dollar organizations, on site and at conferences, and have shared the stage with Les Brown, John Maxwell.

Mack spent many years in the blue-collar workforce, starting his career in 1988 working as a front line, entry-level machine operator before working his way up through various engineering and management positions. Between 2005-2012, he logged over 11,000 hours leading hundreds of leaders and their teams through process improvement, leadership development, organizational change, and cultural transformation as a Lean and Leadership Development Consultant. Contact Mack on his cell at 334-728-4143.

Ria started her career working as a waitress while earning her GED and going to community college at night. She pursued a career in the healthcare industry, eventually earning her MBA. Ria is a TEDx speaker, a certified leadership trainer, and has over 20 years of experience in leadership and management.?Contact Ria on her cell at 334-332-3526.