Leadership, Authenticity and ... Sheepdogs

Elite coach Fergus Connolly shares his personal story of success, strength and the power of empathy among leaders.

https://www.ted.com/talks/fergus_connolly_leadership_vulnerability_and_sheep_dogs

 What I hadn’t realized, was each of these highly successful people I had coached or worked with - 

The Best of the Best 

… had become successful not in spite of failure, but because of failure.  

Failure is inevitable, it is necessary - we just don’t talk about it. 

Failure is Authentic.

"Whether there’s 80,000 people in the stadium, you’re 2 points down with 60 seconds on the clock, you're taking constant fire in combat, you're walking into your biggest sales meeting of the year or there's a family crisis - when you looks across at your teammate or partner the most important quality you want to see at that moment isn't fear, perfection or arrogance. 

You want to see authenticity."

"Authenticity is the foundation for inner strength. The most strongest people are authentic with themselves first. Authenticity can not be faked, copied.

"Authenticity is freedom. Freedom to be your truest, strongest self. "

Authenticity isn’t a part time thing. It’s black or white. There is no gray. Authenticity can not be wrong. It is undeniable. Authenticity is freedom. Freedom to be your truest, strongest self.

Never before have we been so ‘connected’.

Yet never before do we truly know as little about each other.

We are connected to each other through 'images', not our real identities.

"Nothing is more powerful than someone who knows their authentic self, strengths and weaknesses combined. The authentic person cannot be controlled or manipulated.The authentic person is your greatest sheepdog when wolves circle and sheep flee. The authentic person hasn’t an image to protect, their image is their identity, who they are. The authentic person is who they are. "

"Authenticity is Strength. “

Dr. Fergus Connolly is a keynote speaker, consultant, and one of the world’s leading experts in sustaining team performance. Fergus has worked with leading CEOs, professional sports teams (NFL, NBA, NHL, Premier League), innovative organizations, and elite special forces around the globe. Read more here - www.fergusconnolly.com