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How many times have you worked with or for a person you thought was being straightforward and honest, only to find out later that he or she was fooling you and others to achieve some goal? Good leaders don't do this.
Leaders are those individuals who have a vision that can inspire others to work with them to achieve it. Leaders may be described as confident, charismatic, and passionate, but the reality is that they come in all shapes and sizes, and, like so many things in life, there isn't just one right way to be a leader. And there's certainly no shortage of advice on how to be a leader. Countless essays and books have been written on the subject. To the average person, it can be a little overwhelming and confusing.
Yet one trait stands out above all others: Leaders should strive to be authentic.
What does "authentic" mean? According to Merriam-Webster.com, one definition of authentic is "not false or imitation; real or actual," and that's what it means in terms of leadership.Authentic leaders lead as who they truly are without imitating others or pretending to be something they aren't. This doesn't mean that they don't learn and develop over time or change their leadership style based on their experiences. It means that they stay true to their real self and lead from that perspective.
Why is authenticity important for leaders? It removes any pretense about who they are and how they should act-freeing them to leverage their own strengths. It also builds trust across the organization because the team is getting the real person rather than a leader pretending to be someone else. No organization can succeed in the long term without trust. Also, authenticity burnishes a leader's reputation. A highly respected leader attracts highcaliber talent that helps the organization find further success. This self-reinforcing cycle can help teams reach new heights.
Leverage Your Strengths
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses or areas for improvement. As a leader, it's important to remember that no one on your team expects you to be perfect, but they aren't as forgiving if you aren't honest with yourself about your limitations. In most cases, if you've been selected as a leader, you probably have significant strengths...