If you are not a leader and do not have any interest in
becoming one – STOP NOW – don’t
bother reading one more word of this article. It would be absolutely pointless
since you won’t benefit and neither will anyone else because you’re content with
being ordinary.
Awesome – that makes you extraordinary
– for sticking around that is.
Authentic leadership is a quality that is far too scarce; not enough of us are willing to participate in something greater than ourselves. This is probably because the road isn’t always easy and the price is steep. The commitment necessary to facilitate the emergence of authentic leadership is not something most are willing to accept.
For the few who are and do, the goal of this article is to
provide insights that can undoubtedly help you develop and cultivate authentic
leadership. I will share with you what I have learned from some of the finest
minds of the last half century; from my experience and many incredible mentors.
What is
Authentic Leadership?
Authentic Leadership requires that you be the epitome of the changes you want to see in the world. It is leading others by example, doing the right things while exercising the humility to stand with people and not above them.
It is not about being perfect; it is about the continuous pursuit of excellence not only in self but also in others. My good friend and mentor, Ann Mincey, once gave me a gift of what she sees in me. She presented me with a simple card that read “Others.” This card, once given to her by her pastor, represented the true purpose of leadership in one word. Others simply means that you seek to find the best in and grow others. That’s authentic.
Authentic leaders are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty; in fact, you will not find one that would ever ask of anyone what he/she is not willing to do himself/herself.
Again, it is not about being perfect but rather a constant
drive to embody these qualities with the sole purpose of making a positive
difference in the lives of others.
Who is an
Authentic Leader?
No, the answer is not simply anyone; however, it is anyone with the courage to live his/her values no matter what. This person can come from anywhere; from any walk of life; any color, creed or stature – it doesn’t matter. As long as you are open and willing to learn what it takes to tap into your incredible human potential; to unleash your powerful creativity and tenacity in sharing your true gifts – you are an authentic leader.
If you dare to be different in taking right action even in the face of extreme adversity; if you possess the valor to stand alone on your principles – you are an authentic leader. Contrary to popular belief, leaders are neither born nor made, rather they emerge. They can pop up anywhere and at anytime; it depends on what the situation is and who is involved. If there is a person within the ranks that possess the qualities outlined above – a leader will emerge.
Now, I won’t mince words with you or offer you fluff. The
fact that you’re reading this means that you’re way too smart for that. I
believe, based on the information available at the time of this publication
that 99% of people will not emerge as authentic leaders. Forgive me if that
sounds a bit pessimistic; I assure you I am not. The plain fact is that most
people simply will not commit to this challenge either because of fear
paralysis or complacency. Either way – they will remain sheep. What about you?
The 2
Paradigms of Authentic Leadership
There are 2 paradigms of authentic leadership; independent and interdependent. It is in the mastery of these 2 paradigms lies complete authentic leadership.
Your understanding of both of these is crucial if you want to develop and cultivate authentic leadership.
Independent Leadership – Succeed with
self
Independent leadership requires a commitment to personal growth, change and evolution. Stephen R. Covey, one of my favorite authors calls this “Private Victory.”
Private victories are mainly focused on your personal growth and development. It is in this mode of leadership that you define who you are, what your values are and how you respond to the world around you. This is the development and cultivation of personal authentic leadership.
There are 3 main elements that help you achieve excellence in your independent leadership. This is how you succeed with self.
- Be proactive – you must accept 100% responsibility for your actions and responses to the people and circumstances around you. It doesn’t matter where you are from and how you were raised; you have the power to choose your path. This includes what you do and how you do it. Being proactive means that you march to the beat of your own drum. You do not react only when someone or something acts on you – that’s reactive. Rather, you take action to make things happen; you move and influence the people and circumstances around you – that’s proactive.
- Begin with the results you desire – plan your goals from the finish line backwards. When you understand and are clear on your mission, it is easier to mount the correct strategy to achieve your goal. Your success depends on how well you can express your objective. Your intent and desire is your compass for developing the correct map to reach your destination successfully.
- Prioritize appropriately – authentic leadership demands that you put first things first instead of last. It also demands that you don’t waste your energy on meaningless and trivial matters that add no value to anyone. You must learn to execute around priorities; make sure you place high value on the things that matter most to you. Do not take anything for granted because that which we take for granted we lose. Remember the important things and sometimes these are the little things and then endeavor to address them in order of importance. Give them the time and energy that they require; that they deserve.
Interdependent Leadership – Succeed
with others
Interdependent leadership requires a commitment to successfully connecting and collaborating with others. Stephen R. Covey calls this “Public Victory.”
Public victories are mainly focused on working with and growing others. It is in this mode of leadership that you define how you will add value to others and also how you will cherish and nurture the gifts of others in valuing them. This is the development of authentic public leadership.
There are 3 main elements that help you achieve excellence in your interdependent leadership. This is how you succeed with others.
- Seek the third alternative – the third alternative says that you only accept win/win outcomes otherwise you walk away. The main point of the third alternative is to seek the best course of action in all your endeavors. The best course of action is one where all parties affected are happy with the results. If this is not feasible at any given time, then the best course of action is to walk away with clean hearts. This type of attitude sparks excellence in creativity and cooperation.
- Listen first before you speak – authentic leaders are master listeners; they recognize that it is a gift and they give it often. It is better to first understand others before seeking to have them understand you. In order to succeed at understanding, you must genuinely want to do it. No matter how many books you read and from whom you take advice, you will not hear a thing others say unless you truly want to. True understanding requires that you listen actively with the intent to hear what the other person has to say.
- Value Collaboration – 2 heads are truly better than one. J. Paul Getty said “I’d rather have 1% each of 100 men than 100% of one man.” This is because he understood the power of cooperation. He understood that it is through synergy that the pinnacle of excellence is achieved. Authentic leaders encourage and reward creativity; they praise those who speak up and they teach others to find their voice. You must place high value on collaboration in order to succeed in interdependent leadership.
These 2 paradigms of authentic leadership make up the
authentic leader; I know of none who do not understand these and strive to
succeed at them daily. They consistently seek to learn and grow so that they
can succeed in private as well as in public.
What’s Next?
First of all, you should know that nothing in this article is original except for my style of writing. It is all based on universal and unchanging principles – natural law. These have always worked and will continue to work indefinitely.
If you truly want to be an authentic leader, reading this article is a great start. If you wish to continue your journey, here are several more things I suggest you do immediately.
- Add
this blog to your favorites
- Share
it with others
- Subscribe to the P3G
Newsletter
- Subscribe to my RSS
feed
- Read
the book The
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- Get
off your ass and take action
Discover successful habits that allow you to discover,
master and unleash your remarkable untapped human potential through the Powerful Principles of Personal
Growth Newsletter.
