The Importance of Authenticity for Leaders

Fred is a CEO who consistently says one thing while doing the opposite. He likes to talk about the “vital importance” of employee training, yet when it came to paying executive bonuses or funding in-house training programs, it was the training programs that were cut. Fred also likes to call himself “one of the guys,” but you’ll rarely see him at corporate social events and he spends very little time interacting with rank-and-file employees. What might alienate his people the most is that while Fred exhorts his staff to “work harder and go the extra mile,” he regularly plays golf during the work week with “important clients.” Despite his penchant for saying the right things, Fred ultimately comes across as phony and insincere, and his staff and employees know it. This is a big reason why his team doesn’t want to go the extra mile for him.

Maria is an executive who makes a point of walking the talk. When it became necessary to cut costs and overhead, she declined her bonus and took a voluntary 5% salary reduction to go first. Maria not only extols the importance of education and training, she funds it and ensures classes for her team are a regular part of the schedule. Lastly, Maria works as hard as anyone in the company while being careful to only ask for extra effort when it’s truly necessary. Maria has built a reputation over the years for doing what she says and telling it like it is. Her staff and employees value and respect her leadership abilities. They would truly do anything for her.

Aside from the personalities and management style, what differentiates these two business leaders? The answer, in one word, is “authenticity.” Fred is inauthentic; what he says and what he does are two different things. Over time, his credibility has greatly diminished and that’s damaged his ability to lead. Maria, on the other hand, is authentic in her words and deeds. Everyone who works for or with Maria respects her and trusts her at face value, and, as a result, her leadership abilities are not only appreciated but emulated.

Authenticity is another trait of the emotionally intelligent leader, and although it may be more elusive to define, its impact is significant nonetheless.

What We Mean by “Being Authentic”

At its most basic level, authenticity means being genuine – not a replica, not a copy, not an imitation. In leadership, being authentic implies that we’re presenting our true selves in our leadership roles.

Authentic leadership works on the principle that a leader can prove their legitimacy by cultivating sincere relationships with their reports and giving importance to their input.

An authentic leader also encourages everyone in their organization to be more authentic. They appreciate their involvement and support in the success of the organization. Authenticity generates trust, and trust in leadership is critical for both individual and team performance.

For this article, we’ll focus on two key elements that represent strong authenticity in a leader:

Being open and honest about mistakes
Encouraging others to put forward their thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Honesty is a hallmark of authenticity. When a leader is honest and open about mistakes they have made, it speaks volumes as to their integrity and sincerity. Few find it easy to admit to errors, so when a leader willingly displays this behavior, their emotional intelligence shines bright and encourages others to follow in an environment of psychological safety.

A key word in the preceding paragraph is willingly. Many leaders admit their mistakes once they’ve been presented back to them by the press, their board, or employees on social media or in an open letter. However, authentic and self-aware leaders take the initiative and openly take responsibility for mistakes they’ve made that have affected individuals and the organization.

What is refreshing about this behavior is that it actually engenders greater trust and respect by those around the leader. Mistakes are made by all people at all levels. Owning those mistakes isn’t. Leaders who do will find they will have people who express greater loyalty and an elevated willingness to take risks, which often are the catalysts for growth.

There can be so many positive downstream effects for a leader who exercises this trait of emotional intelligence.

In addition, encouraging subordinates to freely speak their minds and express their feelings and opinions reinforces the perception of a leader who’s genuinely concerned with the welfare of every person on staff. Such a leader projects an aura of sincerity, and authenticity, that’s backed up by deeds, not just talk.

A great example of authenticity at the top is expressed by Jim Whitehurst in an article for HBR entitled Be a Leader Who Can Admit Mistakes. He talks about going to market with a product that wasn’t ready and it backfired causing unnecessary costs and delay to the company. He owned it and was accountable for the decision. It made a big difference in how his employees responded by engendering respect and appreciation for his display of vulnerability.

Characteristics of an Authentic Leader

Demonstrates True Self-Awareness

We’ve talked about the importance of self-awareness in prior posts, and it definitely applies to authenticity in leadership. An authentic leader sees all their actions and decisions for what they are and examines their own strengths and weaknesses without any bias. They exert a lot of effort towards overcoming their doubts and fears, and leverage their innate strengths for maximum effect.

Leads with Heart and Soul

Authentic leaders have heart and soul. They’re not afraid to dig deep into personality or ethical issues, and they lead their team with the courage and conviction that comes from listening to people with empathy and respect.

Focuses on Long-Term Results

Authentic leaders don’t waste precious time worrying over temporary setbacks, or less than stellar results in the previous quarter. Their focus remains on the long game. They know patience and hard work do take time but yield desired results in the long run. They communicate that message to their team members.

Practices the Highest Integrity

Strength of character is essential for an authentic leader. They don’t say things which they don’t mean, and they earn respect because of this quality. People trust them because they keep their word, no matter what it takes. And, if they can’t keep their word, they’ll be the first to admit it and own it.

Directs with Vision

Authentic leaders lead with purpose and vision. They add value to people they interact with and help them realize higher professional goals which also lead to better personal lives. They push themselves and others around them to raise the bar and aim for excellence.

Displays Excellent Listening Skills

An authentic leader is always a good listener, even when someone else contradicts their views. In fact, they’re willing to consider contradictory ideas with an open mind and change their opinion if the arguments make sense.

Practices Transparency

Authentic leaders believe in open, honest communication. They don’t hide behind company slogans or “corporate speak.” The image they project in public is in line with how they act in private. They don’t gloss over their mistakes and weaknesses and they have the courage to admit to shortcomings while resolving to do better.

Exhibits Consistency

Authentic leaders stick to their principles in thick or thin. Their behavior is consistent, and they are predictable in how they’ll handle various situations.

Willingly Shares Success with the Team

An authentic leader believes it’s always about putting the team first when it comes to acknowledging a successful effort. They know success is the result of everyone doing their job to the best of their abilities, and no one person should ever get all the credit, especially the leader.

Draws On and Learns From Past Experiences

Authentic leaders draw on lessons learned from their life experiences. Their outstanding leadership skills evolved from real-world experiences and life journeys. They take into account their past successes, and failures, as roadmaps for pursuing future success.

Why it Matters

Why is authenticity important for a business leader? Authenticity in action can differentiate great leaders from average ones. Authenticity can motivate employees to perform at higher levels and be even more loyal to the organization. Authenticity can also solidify trust in relationships well beyond the organization.

Authenticity is more than just being open or telling the truth. It requires an awareness of yourself and your values, and that awareness is the springboard to becoming a better business leader, as we explain in our article, Cultivating Awareness of Others as a Business Leader.

Emotional reasoning is another aspect of emotional intelligence that will help you foster strong relationships as a leader. Read our article on Emotional Reasoning for Leaders!

If you want to do more than imagine how heightened authenticity can positively impact your leadership and take action with help, then consider bringing one of our Leading with Emotional Intelligence classes into your company or work with us one on one. Contact us to learn more.

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