Authenticity in Leadership

Some misunderstand “authenticity”, with an attitude that sounds like, “This is me, and accept me as I am. You don’t like it, too bad!” Such blunt “honesty” is actually an affront, more bravado than real, and not what “authentic” means. When I encounter it, I wonder what damaged the person copping such an attitude. The word authentic is richer in meaning, related to the word “authority”, from the Greek, Latin and French. You are authentic when presenting yourself from your own authority…being genuinely “you”! Not an attitude, but rather a state of being.

An authentic person is honest about the good and bad – no spin.An authentic person can be influenced, but will make the final decision about that.

An authentic person is open to the ideas of others, and willing to incorporate those ideas into his/her own views.

An authentic person disagrees with you without judging you.

An authentic person understands and respects that life is rational, emotional and spiritual, all wrapped into one self.

The authentic person knows that some will judge them as weak or naive. There is both courage and humility in all of that. Being authentic is not for the faint of heart!