Authentic leaders focus on the long term. They realize that nurturing individuals and a company requires hard work and patience, but the approach pays large dividends over time.

Focusing On The Long-Term. 

Authentic leaders are not afraid to show their emotions, their vulnerability and to connect with their employees. They understand it doesn’t make them “soft” and that communicating in a direct but empathetic manner is critical to successful outcomes.

Leading With Heart And Mind

Authentic leaders are able to put the mission and the goals of the organization ahead of their own self-interest. They do the job in pursuit of results.

Mission-Driven And Goal Oriented

Authentic leaders are self-actualized individuals who are aware of their strengths, their limitations, and their emotions. They also show their real selves to their followers.They do not act one way in private and another in public; they don’t hide their mistakes or weaknesses out of fear of looking weak. They also realize that being self-actualized is an endless journey.

Self-Aware And Genuine

Many leaders try to be one way at work, while their “true” personality emerges outside of work. They think that leadership is an act.These leaders are often confused when their employees don’t trust or like them, and can’t really wait to work elsewhere.

Lack Of Authenticity

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What is authentic <a href="http://www.forbes.com/leadership/">leadership</a>?
It continues to surprise me how many leaders attempt to be one way at work, while their "true" personality emerges outside of work. Once a CEO reminded me, "Leadership is acting." And it surprises me when these same leaders seem shocked or confused when their employees don't trust them, don't like them, and can't really wait to work elsewhere.
Authenticity has been explored throughout history, from Greek philosophers to the work of Shakespeare ("To thy own self be true." -Polonius, Hamlet). Authentic leadership has been explored sporadically as part of modern management science, but found its highest levels of acceptance since Bill George's 2003 book, Authentic Leadership.
But what is authentic leadership?
While different theorists have different slants on the concept, most agree that:
1. Authentic leaders are self-aware and genuine. Authentic leaders are self-actualized individuals who are aware of their strengths, their limitations, and their emotions. They also show their real selves to their followers. They do not act one way in private and another in public; they don't hide their mistakes or weaknesses out of fear of looking weak. They also realize that being self-actualized is an endless journey, never complete.
2. Authentic leaders are mission driven and focused on results. They are able to put the mission and the goals of the organization ahead of their own self-interest. They do the job in pursuit of results, not for their own power, money or ego.
3. Authentic leaders lead with their heart, not just their minds. They are not afraid to show their emotions, their vulnerability and to connect with their employees. This does not mean authentic leaders are "soft." In fact communicating in a direct manner is critical to successful outcomes, but it's done with empathy; directness without empathy is cruel.
4. Authentic leaders focus on the long-term. A key tenet in Bill George's model is the company leaders are focused on long-term shareholder value, not in just beating quarterly estimates. Just as George did as CEO of , and as Bezos has done for years at Amazon, leaders realize that to nurture individuals and to nurture a company requires hard work and patience, but the approach pays large dividends over time.
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What are your motivation triggers? Take the "<a href="http://kevinkruse.com/profile/">Your Engagement Profile Quiz</a>" to find out.
Check out <a href="http://www.kevinkruse.com">Kevin Kruse</a>'s new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Employee-Engagement-2-0-Performance-Real-World/dp/1469996138">Employee Engagement</a> 2.0, and discover how to turn apathetic groups into emotionally committed teams.
Kevin Kruse is a NY Times bestselling author and serial entrepreneur. For insider tips and exclusive content, join his newsletter at <a href="http://kevinkruse.com/">kevinkruse.com</a>.
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What is authentic leadership? It continues to surprise me how many leaders attempt to be one way at work, while their "true" personality emerges outside of work. Once a CEO reminded me, "Leadership is acting." And it surprises me when these same leaders seem shocked or confused when their employees don't [...]

What Is Authentic Leadership?

Focusing On The Long-Term.

Leading With Heart And Mind

Mission-Driven And Goal Oriented

Self-Aware And Genuine

Lack Of Authenticity

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