Authentic Leadership: Why it Matters

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“Authenticity is more than speaking; Authenticity is also about doing. Every decision we make says something about who we are." ~ Simon Sinek

Authenticity. A word that is misused, abused, and overused.

Authentic leadership is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its profound impact on individual and organisational performance. This article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of authentic leadership, its key characteristics, and its importance in modern organisational settings.

What is Authentic Leadership?

Authentic leadership is a style that emphasises the leader's genuine and transparent behaviour, characterised by self-awareness, empathy, and a strong moral compass. It involves leading by example, fostering a positive work environment, and prioritising the development of the people you lead. 

This approach is rooted in the idea that leaders should be true to themselves and their values rather than trying to project a false image.

Key Characteristics of Authentic Leaders

Research has identified several key characteristics of authentic leaders, including:

1. Self-awareness: The ability to recognise one's strengths, weaknesses, and motivations (Luthans & Avolio, 2003).

2. Relational transparency: The willingness to be open and honest with followers, fostering trust and open communication (Walumbwa et al., 2008).

3. Internalized moral perspective: A strong sense of ethics and morality that guides decision-making (Avolio et al., 2007).

4. Balanced processing: The ability to consider multiple perspectives and make informed decisions (Walumbwa et al., 2008).

   
   

Why Authentic Leadership Matters?

Authentic leadership has been linked to numerous positive outcomes, including:

1. Improved job satisfaction: Followers are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs when led by authentic leaders (Clapp-Smith et al., 2008).

2. Enhanced work engagement: Authentic leaders foster a positive work environment, leading to higher levels of engagement and motivation (Gardner et al., 2021).

3. Increased employee creativity: Authentic leaders encourage innovation and creativity by providing a supportive and open environment (Gardner et al., 2021).

4. Better organisational citizenship behaviour: When led by authentic leaders, followers are more likely to exhibit positive behaviours such as helping and supporting colleagues (Medina, 2021).

   
   

Authentic leadership is a powerful way to make your organisation better. 

Becoming an authentic leader has three steps - 

1. Self-awareness - Leaders must spend time understanding who they are. Having a strong sense of self-awareness and clarity around who you are allows you to lead with the right intention and authentically. 

2. Self-Reflection - This is the process through which leaders develop a strong self-awareness, which allows them to deliver impact on the people, teams and organisations they lead.

3. Self-Regulation is the ability of a leader to choose how they want to lead and express themselves from one moment to the other.

At IgnitedNeurons, we are on a mission to create authentic leaders driven by a culture of honesty and openness. By partnering with us, you'll access the latest research, expert advice, and innovative solutions to help you develop authentic leaders within your organisation. Join us in our mission to make authentic leadership the standard, where leaders inspire and motivate their teams to achieve great things.