More and more people are using the term “authentic leadership” these days. So what is authentic leadership? And does it matter, or is it just another leadership buzzword? In this post, I share the recent history of the term, a definition and some of my own perspectives on the topic.
Why we need authentic leaders now more than ever
The term Authentic Leadership was brought to the fore and popularised by Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic. In his book ‘Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value’, he states: “We need authentic leaders, people of the highest integrity, committed to building enduring organizations. We need leaders who have a deep sense of purpose and are true to their core values. We need leaders who have the courage to build their companies to meet the needs of all their stakeholders, and who recognize the importance of their service to society.”
We certainly do. That was true when the book was written in 2003, which was in the aftermath of the Enron scandal, and it is true now in the rapidly changing and challenging world we’re living in, which is crying out for leaders who can compassionately hospice the old and leaders who can wisely create the new. We also need leaders that are deeply connected to the larger whole, who have a systemic view of the world and can co-create the new. That becomes easier when embark on the journey of inner wholeness and integration and reconnect to our own essence.
So what is authentic leadership anyway?
Bill George states that “leadership begins and ends with authenticity. It's being yourself; being the person you were created to be.” This is key. It gets beyond our current personality/persona to who we are at our essence. Essence-based leadership involves becoming more of who we are, continuing to grow ourselves and our capacity to lead.
He goes on to say: “Authentic leaders genuinely desire to serve others through their leadership. They are more interested in empowering the people they lead to make a difference than they are in power, money, or prestige for themselves. They are as guided by qualities of the heart, by passion and compassion, as they are by qualities of the mind”.
The five qualities of authentic leaders are:
Understanding their purpose
Practicing solid values
Leading with heart
Establishing connected relationships
Demonstrating consistency and self-discipline
I concur, though I put it a little differently. Truly authentic leaders know themselves, are self-aware, are growing and evolving, are grounded and centered in themselves, are connected to something greater than themselves and are able to lead from a place of strength, wisdom, love and compassion.
And for me, there are three keys to authentic leadership. Authentic leaders are:
Clear and focused on what matters, but doesn’t lose sight of their or others needs
Becoming more truly and wholly themselves while connected to and aware of the larger whole
Able to bring the optimal capacities and behaviours that are required in the moment while owning and harnessing their and others strengths
It is an ongoing dance between being grounded and centred in oneself and transcending the self in service of something greater, even when the something greater is emergent.
Imagine a world in which all leaders were truly authentic leaders!
How to become a more authentic leader
First, recognise it’s a journey not a destination. As Bill George says, “authentic leaders are dedicated to developing themselves because they know that becoming a leader takes a lifetime of personal growth”.
Second, grow your self-awareness. Self-awareness is truly a leadership superpower. You can start by paying attention to your thoughts and behaviours. Explore what is driving your actions and behaviours. Notice your patterns and triggers. Reflect on the impact you have on others. Take responsibility for yourself and the way you impact people. To go deeper on this, ask people for candid feedback, and consider engaging a coach to help you.
Third, notice where you focus is in a given moment. Play with that. Expand your focus. Narrow your focus. Expand it again. What else is going on around you? What are you not seeing or sensing that is present in the room/situation? What is needed now, in this moment from you or from others? Listen. Sense. Let go of your automated tendencies for a few moments and see what emerges as a result. It may surprise you.
There is more of course, but these three things are a good place to start.