What is Authentic Leadership?

Authentic Leadership is a widely-used term. And one that is highly relevant to Project managers. So, what is Authentic Leadership?


The idea came from US business-person and later academic, Bill George.
His book, ‘Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value‘ (https://geni.us/QmfJ5) tried to re-set the needle on leadership styles following the failures of the dot.com boom and scandals like the Enron collapse. He followed it in 2008 by the even more successful ‘Discover Your True North: Becoming an Authentic Leader‘ (https://geni.us/9IUFI).

What is Authentic Leadership?
Authentic leadership is an approach to management and leadership that does away with the act. Leaders allow themselves to be genuine, and transparent. It’s their true self that they allow to be on show.
Self Awareness
To do this, an authentic leader must have a high level of self-awareness.



Maintaining Authenticity
It’s no good ‘turning on’ the authenticity when you need it. That just becomes another sham. True authentic leadership is constant. And so must be the integrity and behaviours it requires. You must always be prepared to own up to your mistakes and shortcomings, and be courageous in your decisions.


I am very attracted to the phrase that Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones use in their excellent book ‘Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?‘ It’s my favourite book on authentic leadership… https://geni.us/xugbBk1
Be yourself – more – with skill



The Aspects of Authentic Leadership
Different authors focus on different components of authentic leadership. Here are the aspects that I think are the most important, in understanding how to build your own authentic leadership style. Notice that these don’t tell you what to do. Rather, they aim to guide you in making your choices.
I’ll start with the fundamental component:

- Self Awareness
- How you use your Power
- Transparent and Honest Relationships
- Showing your Emotions
- Balanced Decision-making
- Sustainable Leadership
- The Bigger Picture
- Reflective
- Ethics and Integrity


"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." ...‘Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.



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