The 5 Qualities of an Authentic Leader

Leaders often feel that they have to be perfect, or at least appear that they're on top of everything. Leaders at every level are somehow convinced that when they were given their title, they were supposed to become all-knowing and invincible. They attempt to hide their weaknesses (sometimes resorting to over-control and self-serving behavior), fearing that people won't follow and will reject them if they see them for who they really are. The reality is that people can see a leader's weaknesses much more clearly than the leader can. In attempting to cover things up, a leader is only fooling himself.

According to Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic and author of Authentic Leadership, it's time to lead in a different way:

* To be motivated by your mission, not your money.
* To tap into your values, not your ego.
* To connect with others through your heart, not your persona.
* To live your life with such discipline that you would be proud to read about your behavior on the front page of your local newspaper.

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 one essential quality you must have to lead is to be your own person, authentic in every regard. It is important that each of us develop our own leadership style, consistent with our own personality and character. Unfortunately, the pressures of an organization push us to adhere to its normative style. But if we conform to a style that is not consistent with who we are, we will never become authentic leaders.

* Being true to the person you were created to be means accepting your faults as well as using your strengths. Accepting your shadow side is an essential part of being authentic.

* As an authentic leader, you'll need to demonstrate these five qualities. Acquiring them is a life-long journey:

1. Understanding your purpose. If you lack purpose and direction in leading, why would anyone want to follow you? Without a real sense of purpose, leaders are at the mercy of their egos and are vulnerable to narcissistic impulses. There is no way you can adopt someone else's purpose and still be an authentic leader. You must first understand yourself, your passions, and your underlying emotions. Then you must seek an environment that offers a fit between the organization's purpose and your own. Serving others should be your primary goal.

2. Practicing solid values. Leaders are defined by their values and their character. The values of the authentic leader are shaped by personal beliefs, developed through study, introspection, and consultation with others - and a lifetime of experience. These values define your moral compass and a deep sense of the right thing to do. Integrity is one value that is required of every authentic leader.

3. Leading with heart. Authentic leaders are "bighearted," open and willing to share themselves fully with people and genuinely interested in them. Leaders like that have the ability to ignite the souls of people to achieve greatness far beyond what anyone imagined possible. Far too many leaders wall themselves off from others and avoid caring relationships. However, it is in developing compassion that you become an authentic human being.

4. Establishing connected relationships. Today's employees demand more personal relationships with their leaders before they will give themselves fully to their jobs. They insist on having access to their leaders, knowing that it is in the openness and the depth of the relationship with the leader that trust and commitment are built. Authentic leaders establish enduring, trusting relationships with people throughout the organization built on connectedness and a shared purpose of working together toward a common goal.

5. Demonstrating self-discipline. Self-discipline is an essential quality of an authentic leader. Without it, you cannot gain the respect of your followers. To be authentic, you must behave with consistency and self-discipline, not letting stress get in the way of your judgment. You must learn to handle any kind of pressure and stay cool and calm. Handling unexpected challenges requires being in peak condition. Like professional athletes, leaders need consistent habits to keep their minds sharp and their bodies in shape.

* Becoming an authentic leader involves many years of hard work, some pain and suffering, and the wisdom that comes from experiencing life at its fullest. Often the most important things you learn in life come when you seem to be going nowhere, or actually backward. It is only in the labyrinth and crucible of life that people develop into authentic leaders.

Resource

Gifted Leaders (giftedleaders.com)