We think of authentic leadership as a new concept – a small theory thrown around a few decades ago which has slowly gathered momentum. However the concept of authentic leadership – an approach that builds honest relationships and promotes openness – is something that stems back to Ancient Greece. The terms used by Socrates and Plato, “Know thyself”, sums up authentic leadership. To know your values, behaviours, limits and strengths in order to influence a group of people.
In this context, to lead authentically rests on the ability of the person in general to be a living, breathing depiction of the values and ethics that they outwardly promote in a professional environment.
This could be interpreted as putting oneself on a pedestal, but authentic leadership isn’t about creating a ‘holier than thou’ persona. It is about laying down principles that you follow, and that you would ideally like your people to follow. It is evolves throughout a person’s lifetime – a process of building self-awareness and knowing one’s own strengths and limitations.
The idea of authenticity is a complex one. Authentic leadership needs to be understood as the approach that enables the leader to represent a set of values to which they stick by. When we look at people of great integrity and tenacity, they are more often than not examples of authentic leaders. Authenticity reflects the leader’s inner self – so it can not be a masquerade or act.
Authentic leaders have a set of rules, but they don’t need to be written in stone – successful leadership is all about evolving after all. However, they are defined by what others see in them. They are true to themselves, so people can easily trust them.
Authentic leaders build trust and positivity by promoting their beliefs and values in a way that doesn’t ram the message down people’s throats, but allows others to learn what inspired the leader to follow this message in the first place.
Ultimately, authentic leaders take on the challenge of managing their own authenticity. It is a reputation that is painstakingly formed, and as such well earned. They must whole heartedly believe in their message – not just because they like the idea of it – but because by representing it, and teaching it, they are a force for the greater good.
