Discovering Authentic Leadership

Harvard Business Review (HBR) about “Discovering Your Authentic Leadership” offers certain key takeaways that authentic leadership commits to bettering individuals who recognize that growth is an ongoing process. It is a style exhibited by individuals who take responsibility for their actions, uphold high standards of integrity, and make decisions based on principles and rules rather than short-term success. The article exhibits that authentic leaders align their goals with the mission and purpose of the organization to create a meaningful relationship with their team as they work towards a shared vision. They invest efforts and time into personal development as the commitment to self-improvement is the crucial starting point for authentic leadership. Such a mission-driven approach boosts team performance and fosters a positive work environment (George et al., 2007).

Suppose Alex is leading a software development team working on a critical project. He is a leader who demonstrates authenticity and transparency while communicating openly about setbacks and challenges within the team. Alex reminds his team that their work impacts people’s lives whether they enhance educational tools or improve healthcare software thus emphasizing the project’s purpose beyond code delivery while keeping the leadership mission at the forefront. He seeks feedback and do not blame others when a critical bug is discovered in the software development project and encourages himself and the team to invest their time in learning as he believes that the personal growth of a leader as well as the team contributes to the overall success of the team.

While authentic leadership is rewarding, the article posits that it is still not without challenges as authentic leaders prioritize inclusivity and vulnerability throughout their discussions reflecting on their experiences which may slow down their decision-making as their openness can be uncomfortable. They also balance organizational objectives, employees’ satisfaction level, and expectations of the shareholders because it would not be easy for organizational leaders to satisfy everyone. Leading from values requires courage, self-improvement, commitment, and self-awareness. As Bill George suggests authentic leaders are consistent across all aspects of life involving growth, self-awareness, and learning, I believe that it is about being genuine in every aspect of life as I am a person who wears different hats and adapts to various contexts while recognizing the fact that we evolve over time.

References

George, B., Sims, P., McLean, A. N., & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering your authentic leadership. Harvard Business Review, 85(2), 129.