The cornerstone of great leadership is authenticity. It is the ‘real key’ to any long-term achievement.
Leaders ask us to believe, to give more, to sacrifice. To trust a leader, his or her leadership must be genuine, a true reflection of his/her strengths, values and culture. Leaders can engender that trust in many different ways, leading from the front, middle, or back, provided their authenticity is apparent.
Authentic leaders are …
- Self-aware. They’re not afraid to show their real selves to their followers. Their behavior doesn’t differ whether in public or in private; they don’t hide their mistakes out of fear of looking weak.
- Results oriented. The goals of the organization come before their own self-interest.
- Direct, yet empathetic. They are not afraid to show vulnerabilities to connect with their followers.
They are originals and their authenticity is birthed out of a desire for what is real.
“That which makes you different makes you great!” –Leadershipology.com
If you seek what is real or genuine in any area of life, the first requirement is you must be who you seek to see. Why? Because it is impossible to see anything any differently than you are yourself. We simply don’t see things the way they are … rather, we see people, places and things, the way we are.
Seek to be authentic … self-aware, results oriented, and direct, yet empathetic and you will see long-term success in every area of your life.
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