Authentic Leadership

An approach to leadership that emphasizes building the leader’s legitimacy through honest relationships with followers and are built on ethical foundations.

• Leader

• Follower (Leader /Follower Relationship)

• Authentic leadership focuses on knowing and acting according to one’s core beliefs (ethics), emotions, and preferences in a clear, consistent way

• Leaders perspective: Knowing one’s own preferences, ethics, beliefs and emotions and acting in a way that is, and communicates, consistence with them.

• Followers perspective: Knowing the leader is guided by a particular set of preferences, ethics, beliefs, and emotions and knowing that those areas can be relied on consistently.

Self-Awareness:

• An ongoing process of reflection and re-examination by the leader of his or her own strength, weaknesses, and values

Relational Transparency:

• Open sharing by the leader of his or her own thoughts and beliefs, balanced by a minimization of inappropriate emotions

Balanced Processing:

• Solicitation by the leader of opposing viewpoints and fair-minded consideration of those viewpoints

Internalized Moral Perspective:

• A positive ethical foundation adhered to by the leader in his or her relationships and decisions that is resistant to outside pressures

• Authentic Leadership is an effective style of leadership

• Authentic Leadership is a learned skill of leadership.

• There is no single, universal style of leadership

• Attempting to imitate the leadership style or persona of a successful, charismatic leader rarely results in success

• As a leader, you can achieve a greater level of leadership success by striving to be your genuine, authentic self

1. Learning from Your Life Story

2. Knowing Your Authentic Self

3. Practicing Your Values & Principles

4. Balancing Your Extrinsic & Intrinsic Motivations

5. Building Your Support Team

6. Integrating Your Life by Staying Grounded

7. Empowering People to Lead

1. Which people and experiences in your life had the greatest impact on you?

2. What tools do you use to become self-aware?

3. What are your most deeply held values?

4. What motivates you extrinsically?

5. What kind of support team do you have?

6. Is your life integrated?

7. What does being authentic mean in your life?

8. What steps can you take today, tomorrow, and over the next year to develop your authentic leadership?