Leading with authenticity involves not only the acknowledgment of your strengths and weaknesses but also embracing them. It’s about knowing and acting on your core values consistently, especially when under pressure. It’s about being true to oneself. Young leaders, in particular, may find it challenging to discover their unique leadership style, often called their “True North.”

“True North” refers to one’s internal compass, the deeply held beliefs, values, and principles that guide a person’s decisions and actions. Your unique sense of purpose and conviction comes from leading in alignment with your most deeply held values.

Self-Awareness and Reflection

Authentic leadership is deeply rooted in self-awareness and reflection, a process that involves a deep understanding of one’s passions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. This self-understanding acts as a compass, guiding your decisions and actions as a leader. Spend time introspecting, consider your life’s trajectory, and pinpoint the experiences that have significantly shaped your character and worldview. This examination will yield insights that form the foundation of your authentic leadership style.

Recognizing your strengths and acknowledging your weaknesses is a critical balancing act in developing as an authentic leader. Appreciating your triumphs while understanding your areas of growth promotes empathy and continuous learning. It enables you to relate to others’ experiences and identifies personal and professional development areas, preventing stagnation.

Creating a list of your core values and principles serves as a practical tool in your leadership journey. These are the ethics you stand for, the guidelines that direct your actions and decisions, and the boundaries you won’t cross, regardless of the circumstances. This ethical roadmap aids in navigating complex situations and ensuring your decisions are in line with your authentic self. As you evolve, revisit and reassess this list to ensure it continues to reflect your growth and development as an authentic leader.

Seek Honest Feedback

Others often see aspects of ourselves that we miss. Seek out feedback from diverse sources—colleagues, mentors, direct reports, and even friends and family. Don’t shy away from constructive criticism, as it provides valuable growth opportunities.

Regularly ask for feedback from a diverse group, including peers, subordinates, and superiors. You could use anonymous feedback tools for a more honest assessment.

Establish a Personal Board of Directors

Establishing a Personal Board of Directors involves strategically curating a group of trusted advisors to guide you in your professional journey. This concept operates on the principle of diversity of thought, providing you with a range of perspectives to aid your decision-making and navigate challenges. It begins with introspection, identifying your professional needs, strengths, areas for growth, and future goals. Understanding these needs allows you to recognize who in your network might offer the valuable advice and perspectives you seek.

Potential board members may include mentors, colleagues, peers from other industries, or personal connections who understand your ambitions. These individuals should be ones who you respect, trust, and recognize as possessing the expertise or experiences that align with your aspirations. Once identified, the process involves:

• Reaching out to these individuals.
• Articulating why you value their insights.
• Inviting them to be a part of your personal board.

This initiative supports your professional growth and fosters a culture of shared learning and mentorship.

Align Actions with Values

Authentic leaders don’t just acknowledge their core beliefs; they ensure their actions reflect these values consistently, reinforcing them in their day-to-day activities and interactions. This alignment provides a clear guide for behavior and decision-making and sets the tone for the organizational culture. It sends a powerful message about what is truly important, encouraging others in the organization to emulate these behaviors and establishing a strong sense of trust and integrity.

The process of aligning actions with values requires introspection and honesty. It involves clearly identifying your values, then reviewing your behaviors and decisions to ensure they are in harmony with these principles. This process is ongoing, requiring regular self-reflection and openness to feedback. If discrepancies are found, authentic leaders take responsibility, make necessary changes, and seek to learn from these experiences. When leaders’ actions are congruent with their values, they inspire trust, loyalty, and engagement among their team members, enhancing overall team performance and success.

Practice Empathy and Active Listening

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, enabling you to connect with your team on a deeper level. It helps to create a supportive environment where employees feel heard and valued. By understanding your team members’ perspectives, challenges, and motivations, you can make more informed decisions and provide better guidance. Empathy can also enhance your ability to influence others, as people are more likely to follow leaders who genuinely care about their well-being.

Active listening is a critical component of empathy. It involves not just hearing the words that someone is saying but also understanding the complete message being communicated, both verbally and nonverbally. As a leader, practicing active listening means fully focusing on the speaker, avoiding distractions, showing that you’re engaged with affirming body language, and providing feedback or asking questions for clarity. Active listening fosters open communication, builds trust, and enables you to understand your team’s needs and concerns more effectively. When combined, empathy and active listening can significantly strengthen your leadership capability and your team’s performance.

Embrace Vulnerability

Embracing vulnerability as a leader means having the courage to be open about your feelings, thoughts, and challenges. It involves admitting when you’re wrong, asking for help when needed, and acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers. This kind of openness can seem counterintuitive, especially in a business environment where leaders are often expected to exude confidence and decisiveness. However, this authenticity fosters trust and encourages others to be open about their vulnerabilities.

When leaders embrace vulnerability, they build a culture of psychological safety, where team members feel safe to take risks, voice their opinions, and admit their mistakes without fear of being criticized or judged. This leads to greater collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement. 

However, embracing vulnerability doesn’t mean oversharing or bringing every personal issue into the workplace. It’s about finding the right balance and showing your human side to help others feel more comfortable and connected in the workplace. Embracing vulnerability is a continuous journey of self-awareness and personal growth, but it’s one that can profoundly enhance your leadership style and the overall success of your team.

Continue Learning and Growing

Continuous learning and growth are fundamental to authentic leadership. In an ever-evolving world, staying static is not an option. As a leader, it’s crucial to be aware of the constant changes and trends in your industry, adapt to new technologies, and acquire new skills. But learning and growth go beyond just professional development; they also include personal growth and self-improvement.

Take advantage of all learning opportunities that come your way, whether it’s attending industry conferences, enrolling in online courses, or participating in workshops. Read widely, not only within your field but beyond it. Diversifying your knowledge can lead to new insights and innovative solutions. Also, consider finding a mentor who can provide guidance and feedback or engage in peer learning to exchange ideas and experiences.

Moreover, learn from your team. Encourage open dialogue, actively seek their feedback and listen to their ideas. They can offer fresh perspectives that you may not have considered. Remember, the goal isn’t to know everything but to be curious and willing to learn.

Finally, pay attention to personal development. Improve your emotional intelligence, practice mindfulness, and invest time in understanding yourself better. It’s about realizing your potential, your strengths, and areas of improvement. This self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership. It allows you to lead with empathy, make more balanced decisions, and inspire others to do the same.

By committing to continuous learning and growth, you demonstrate a key trait of an authentic leader: the humility and courage to acknowledge that there is always something new to learn and always room to grow.