Leadership has to do with who we are as human beings and the forces that shaped us. Style is the outward manifestation of one’s authentic leadership. Authentic leaders must adapt their styles to fit the situation and capabilities of their teammates.

Character, Not Style

You can’t pretend to be an authentic leader for long because people will eventually sense the lack of authenticity, and ultimately you will not gain the trust of your teammates.If you are real and genuine people will see you as trustworthy and willing to learn, they will respond positively to requests for help in getting through difficult times.

Real And Genuine

Authentic leaders do not have a rigid view of themselves and their leadership. Becoming authentic is a developmental state that requires time and challenges, and enables leaders to switch roles, as they learn and grow from their experiences.

Constantly Growing

Authentic leaders do not burst out with whatever they may be thinking or feeling. Rather, they exhibit self-monitoring, understand how they are being perceived, and use emotional intelligence (EQ) to communicate effectively.

Adapting To The Context

They understand themselves and reframe their negative experiences so they can make the most out of them and express themselves authentically in a positive manner. That’s why exploring who they are and getting honest feedback from their colleagues are essential elements of becoming authentic leaders.

Authentic Leaders Are Empathetic

They are people of the highest integrity, committed to building enduring organizations. They have a deep sense of purpose and self-discipline, are true to their core values, dare to build their companies to meet the needs of their stakeholders, and recognize the importance of their service to society.

Authentic Leaders 

They make mistakes but are willing to admit their errors, learn from them and ask others for help. They are also always modest while being self-confident.

Not Trying To Be Perfect

In the last 10 years, authenticity has become the gold standard of leadership. This is a sea change from 2003 when I wrote Authentic Leadership. Back then, many people asked what it meant to be authentic. Authentic Leadership was intended as a clarion call to the new generation to learn from negative examples like Enron, WorldCom and Tyco.

Character, Not Style

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