AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

In an ever-changing business landscape, we’re seeing how important it is to have authentic leadership development that is built to last.

- Jon Michail

In an ever-changing business landscape, we’re seeing how important it is to have authentic leadership development that is built to last. Those who have successfully developed their brands have learned to strategically apply what they know about themselves as individuals to create more meaningful connections with others — connections that ultimately drive business success every day.

Authentic leadership style isn’t hard to spot. Whether it’s Mark Zuckerberg speaking at the Facebook Town Hall in a hoodie, or pajama-clad Jeff Bezos raising awareness of childhood cancer, we can usually tell when a leader is being authentic — and when they’re just showing up in sweatpants or a lab coat or wearing a tuxedo to an event, because it was a condition of entry.

To help cut through some of the noise and confusion around these topics, the focus here is on answering two key questions: What is authentic leadership development? And why is it important?

What is authentic leadership?

While the definition of this concept has evolved over time and may take on a different meaning to each individual, many agree that it is simply being yourself — in the workplace and life in general. It means acting consistently upon your core values so you can be trusted by your community. What authentic leadership is not:

Being your true self regardless of consequence (i.e., anger, insults, etc.)

Intimidating or taking advantage of people for personal gain

Being completely transparent about everything in your life

Focusing only on the needs and wants of yourself and pretending that you care for others

Presenting an outer image that is incongruent with the inner image