“Be yourself” is a piece of advice we have all encountered at some point in our lives. But what exactly does it mean to be authentic, and why is it revered as the gold standard for leadership and navigating life successfully?
The term “authentic” traditionally referred to original works of art instead of copies. It is about adhering to your true self and being transparent about who you are across all aspects of your life. A core aspect of you shows up whether at work, with family, in your relationship, or among strangers. There is something liberating about that consistent expression. To be authentic is to be the author of your life, to write your story, and to direct your actions rather than feeling compelled to conform to others’ expectations or seek acceptance.
Good leadership requires authenticity
In Authentic Leadership, Author Bill George defined the concept as “understanding your purpose, practicing solid values, leading with your heart, establishing connected relationships, and demonstrating self-discipline.” In essence, it involves neither projecting a fabricated corporate persona nor emulating the leadership styles of others. It is being true to your origins, finding your unique path, and evolving into the person you are destined to become.
The Rewards of Authenticity:
In his book Tribe, Sebastian Junger shares the self-determination theory, which holds that humans need three elements to be content: competence in their pursuits, connection with others, and authenticity in their lives. Introducing authenticity to the workplace is part of the whole person movement, integrating our internal and external selves. Instead of concealing our values and experiences, we openly share them. Our values and experiences are not hidden but shared. Otherwise, we risk donning a mask that exhausts us as we struggle to maintain the facade. The bedrock of authenticity is being seen by others, enabling them to understand your beliefs and intentions.
Authentic leadership also bestows potent benefits upon others. When we are real, we create an environment that encourages authenticity in others. Research by Vanessa Buote, as cited in the Harvard Business Review, suggests that most employees believe authenticity in the workplace fosters better relationships with colleagues, higher levels of trust, greater productivity, and a more positive work atmosphere. Furthermore, a study in the Leadership & Organization Development Journal reveals that “employees' perception of authentic leadership serves as the strongest predictor of job satisfaction and can have a positive impact on work-related attitudes and happiness.”
The costs of being inauthentic:
When we are inauthentic by concealing ourselves from others, the burden of making countless micro-decisisons to bury certain aspects of our identity becomes exhausting. What we repress ultimately gets expressed; otherwise, we start to lose our way and act in contradictory terms. Over time, we become strangers to ourselves, transforming into the very mask we originally intended to don temporarily. When we limit ourselves and fail to bring our full version to work, we lose people’s trust, and our relationships weaken. It could be challenging to shape the workplace with our vision when we are not forthcoming with it. Moreover, relying excessively on external validation distorts our self-perception, as Epictetus astutely noted, “personal merit can’t be derived from an external source.” We need to reconnect with our inner compass.
Authenticity is when we can engage the best and truest part of ourselves and be bold enough to show that side to others. We can create great relationships at work and better lead our teams to more success.
Quote of the day: “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” -Joseph Campbell
Q: How do you define authenticity? When are you most authentic, and when do you find it most challenging? What does it feel like to be inauthentic? Comment and share with us; we’d love to hear your perspective!
[The next blog in this series 2/4 will focus on the characteristics of an authentic leader]
As a leadership development and executive coach, I work with leaders to explore what authentic leadership means to them and develop their style, contact me to explore this topic further.
