Being a leader is not easy and oftentimes it’s downright difficult. It involves making the best decisions with the worst data, being strong and confident when you’re unsure, even being flexible when your team is rigid. There are so many skills that are needed to be a leader. But what about authentic leadership? What does that entail? Does it even matter?
Yes, it matters. It matters greatly. Being an authentic leader builds legitimacy through honest relationships with your team. It means treating others ethically and fairly, keeping an open mind and valuing input from your team. It means being self aware of your faults and mistakes and taking responsibility. It means giving grace to those who make mistakes and assuring them that it will be ok. Being an authentic leader also requires asking for forgiveness and giving it when needed, asking for honest feedback and appreciating it when it’s given, and treating people with respect and trust.
Trust...that’s a big issue with many leaders. Trust takes time to build, and it starts during the interview process. The leaders that take their time during the hiring process (which takes discipline) are slowly building trust. If you trust your team, you can create an amazing work environment. You’ll be respected, not feared. You will have a place to pitch ideas and get some honest feedback. Your team will feel confident to pitch their own ideas knowing they won’t get shot down and embarrassed.
Leading is hard enough, but if you lead authentically and build a culture of trust and confidence with your team you’ll have a team that is productive, happy, and confident. Who wouldn’t want to work in an environment where you can talk to your boss about an idea and know you won’t get laughed at or criticized? As a leader, won’t it be great not having the pressure to always have the answers and know you have a team of people that will work together to win?
Being an authentic leader is a lot like being a good person. It requires many important characteristics such as being self aware, having integrity and morality, listening to others with empathy, being transparent and honest, sharing success with people, learning from mistakes, forgiving others, having a purpose and plenty of patience. When you’re open and transparent with your team, you’ll earn their respect and their loyalty. According to an extensive global study, 79% of people who quit their jobs did so because they did not feel appreciated.* Because the bottom line is, people will be loyal to a company if they feel valued.
