How to become an authentic leader
Being authentic as a leader is what will help you stand out, leverage your natural strengths to be your best, and connect with your teams more easily.
Most of the time when I'm working with an emerging leader or a woman in leadership, their guidance of what it means and looks like to be a leader is coming from someone in leadership within their company. This will only get you so far.
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This can be especially difficult for new leaders who are having to learn a lot at once during their transition into leadership. I've found it's also difficult for women in leadership because most companies tend to have less women in leadership positions for them to look up to.
It's helpful to have role models and mentors to look up to, especially in leadership, however, we're all so unique that what works for one person isn't going to work for everyone. We also can't guarantee the people in leadership positions are actually worthy role models.
So, we can get the best results for ourselves and our teams when we look inward at our own strengths and qualities and develop a vision and plan for how to be our most authentic self as a leader.
What does it mean to be an authentic leader?
I've found that being an authentic leader means leading in a way that is in alignment with yourown strengths, values, and future vision.
This typically looks like someone who is very intentional with their communication, has integrity in their actions, and is respected by others.
What are the benefits of being an authentic leader?
Being an authentic leader allows you to trust yourself to handle everything from the day-to-day work, difficult situations and conversations, re-prioritize or shift gears along the way, influence and lead others effectively, and achieve goals more efficiently.
What happens when you're not an authentic leader?
Typically when you're not being authentic in your leadership, you're trying to fit a certain mold of what you think it 'should' look like to be a leader. This can actually result in less trust and respect from the people you work with, less ability to influence others, and less confidence in yourself.
Even if people can't directly or consciously tell that you're not fully being yourself, subconsciously they'll be able to pick up on your energy as disingenuous. It can also be harder for you to make decisions confidently because you may rely on asking a lot of other people for input or go back and forth on your decisions and stress about it more.
Overall, this reduces your mental well-being because you're constantly trying to be something and someone you're not.
What does it take to be an authentic leader?
You can tell someone's an authentic leader by how they show up for themselves, their team, and their team even when they aren't around. A few ways to get started include:
Know yourself and your team
Have enough self awareness to understand how to leverage your unique strengths and learn from your blind spots. In other words, have a growth mindset, where you want to continually improve even when it's hard.
Understand your team members well enough to be able to empower and motivate them effectively as individuals. You understand their unique strengths, working habits, and preferences.
Know where you and your team are headed: from the team's goals, individual's growth goals, to your future vision for the team. Keep these top of mind as your guiding light for making decisions.
Have confidence in yourself and your team
Believe in where you and your team are headed and that you are the right people to get the job done. This will help you motivate your team and be the leader they need to look up to along the way.
Trust in yourself and your team to handle uncertainty and navigate change. This allows you all to be able to re-prioritize as needed along the way without being too attached to one certain path or outcome.
Have the confidence to say what needs to be said, especially during the difficult conversations. You need to able to stand up for your team's best interest, especially when they're not in the room or part of the discussion.
Be committed to your well-being
In order to lead authentically consistently, you need to keep your metaphorical cup filled, where you pour into yourself before you can pour into others. Things means caring for and prioritizing your emotional, physical, and mental well-being in order to keep your energy up and your emotions regulated. This helps you navigate the difficult situations and conversations with more ease.
When you're maintaining your own well-being, you're better able to show up for your team when they need you. It also allows you to set an example for the rest of your team by practicing what you preach.
Having the discipline you need to show up consistently for yourself and your team over the long term will help prevent your own burn out and overwhelm (and that of your team members).
Becoming an authentic leader starts with slowing down, understanding yourself and your team better, in order to make things easier for us and our teams over the long term.
If you're ready to get clear on your authentic leadership style, explore the Lead with Confidence Program.
Brittany Canaski is a highly-rated Leadership Coach, Trainer, and Founder of Hello Velocity where she builds confident leaders and high-performing teams. When she's not building her business, you can find her planning her next travel adventure with her husband, watching Formula 1 racing, or volunteering in her local community of Charlotte, NC.
