The Real Thing
John D. Couris
Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General Hospital Research Fellow University of South Florida Muma College of Buisness
I am often asked by young(er) colleagues and folks I mentor, “how do you lead?” My short two-word answer is “like me.” I don’t mean to be glib. What I’m saying is that I practice authentic leadership. I lead as I live. Who I am as a leader is who I am on the golf course, spending time with friends or at home with my family.
I think there are a lot of executives out there who “act” their way through leadership. By this, I mean, they develop a leadership persona that is different from their authentic selves. This doesn’t work for me. I don’t have time to be anyone other than who I am. Over the course of my career, I’ve found that leading authentically has allowed me to be the most effective, satisfied and passionate leader I can be.
You have to first be willing to be yourself in all aspects of your life, including your professional one. Your desire to lead with authenticity is directly tied to your willingness to take the risk to be yourself. The most significant ingredient to success is your ability to share your whole self with others—not just your “office” persona.
Being an authentic leader is also about feeling comfortable in your own skin, owning your leadership style and playing to your strengths. It is also about more than just showing up and being professional. It is about creating lasting relationships and connections with your team and colleagues that are built on trust, honesty and communication. This kind of true synergy enables you to collaborate, achieve your collective goal and face the challenges ahead.
I believe that authentic leadership begins with:
- Enabling trust and inspiring others by being real and transparent
- Owning my mistakes and recasting them as learning opportunities
- Committing to my own self-learning and growth
- Putting my ego aside and working to empower and develop my team
The transformation into an authentic leader does not happen overnight. It’s a process of growth and experience. I would argue, and I hope my colleagues would agree, that I am a better, stronger and more effective leader today than I was 10 years ago.
Continue following along with me both here and on my blog, Inventing Health.
Very True John, give my best to all!
?? Product Design Leader | Hands-On Innovator | Inspiring Teams & Crafting Scalable SaaS Experiences | Sony | EDB | UPenn
6 年Well said. The world is starved for authenticity. When we simply be true to ourselves, others feel it, do the same, and an authentic relationship results, rooted in trust. The truest end of a leader is the success and empowerment of the individuals who make up the team. Authenticity, trust, building each up... the truest way forward.
Senior Healthcare and EMR Consultant
6 年So true, core strength is exactly that unwavering foundation!
RN Case Manager
6 年Bravo! So true and I so wish more realized this! It concerns me that my profession of nursing leaders so lack in this philosophy - and “acting” “bullying” and “manipulativeness” are all both subtly and even blatantly demonstrated.
D.B.A
6 年I like leaders who work hard to help their staff to be successful and happy in life. Caring leaders are leaders who will last more than a life time. Mr. Couris, thank you so much for the great leadership topics.