We recently looked at emotional intelligence – what it is and how to develop it in your team.

This time we’re going to look at authentic leadership. Studies have determined that adopting a more collaborative approach to leadership makes you more effective.

So, what is authentic leadership?

  • Self-awareness – like emotional intelligence it starts with being clear about your strengths, weaknesses and values, and understanding how these translate in the working environment
  • Transparency – the ability to articulate your thoughts and beliefs – being honest about how you feel. This encourages others to do likewise, which is incredibly helpful for succession planning.
  • Balance – being able to recognise and take into account the opinion of other members of your team. This is about knowing you don’t have all the answers, and being keen to encourage ideas from your staff. This is hugely beneficial in building trust and respect.
  • Ethical code – having genuine integrity that you demonstrate consistently

 

Of course, the very act of being authentic is about being real and honest. Showing your true self – because people can very quickly see through a veneer.

But that’s not to say that you can’t develop your authenticity…

  • Evaluate what impact events throughout your life have had on you. Are you holding onto things it is really time to let go? How did you react to key moments – and how do you feel about that now, looking back?
  • Think about your moral and ethical code – are your actions always in harmony with your code? It is important that your team sees that your words and actions are in line.
  • Initiate a 360 feedback loop – getting honest feedback from your team about your leadership strengths and weaknesses. This is something we very often support our clients with.
  • Consider coaching – some clients start to get a bit fidgety when we suggest this. But far from being a “fluffy” experience with you doing all the soul searching, a good coach can help show you the impact of your behaviours, how to develop your strengths, and how to overcome your weaknesses and bad habits.

If you are interested in learning more about this subject there is a longer article “Discovering your Authentic Leadership” in Harvard Business Review you may enjoy. There are also numerous books on the subject, including Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value by Bill George.

If you would like to learn more about developing authentic leadership in your business, please contact us on 01256 328 428.