Again and again, throughout the history of effective leaders, a consistent sentiment has echoed: to be an authentic leader is not to lead the most people, wield the most power, or even achieve the most outcomes. To be an authentic leader lies deeper than those surface measures, in character and emotional intelligence. We'll give you the key ingredients; the rest is up to you!
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Authentic Leadership Begins By Inspiring and Empowering Teams
“Great things in business are never done by one person.”
Great achievements in the business world are rarely the result of a single individual's efforts. Instead, they are the culmination of collaborative endeavors, where diverse talents and perspectives come together to create something truly remarkable.
It is through the synergy of teamwork, where each member contributes their unique strengths and insights, that extraordinary outcomes are realized.
In 2003—the year Apple launched the iTunes music store—Steve Jobs went on 60 Minutes and explained his view of leadership. Watch the video below.
Is there a “boss” that impressed upon you what it means to be a fair, just, and effective leader?
Who comes to mind when you think of power handled correctly? Or are you experiencing micromanaging?
Interestingly, “leader” is not first and foremost defined as a high-ranking person. In fact, the first example of a leader (n.) at Merriam-Webster, is “something that leads: such as: a primary or terminal shoot of a plant.”
This might seem odd—it is also spot-on!
To lead is to be connected and alive, as a plant’s tendrils are connected to their roots and their environment, seeking nutrients and sunlight for growth. A business needs to be a sustainable ecosystem, just like nature.
A leader cannot exist without the living thing it’s growing out of; it cannot exist in a vacuum; it must be actively growing and interacting. And honoring the eight forms of business capital.
When the definition of leader does get to human leaders, it lists them in this order: guide, conductor, military director, a commanding authority, the head of a political party (and then, somewhat inexplicably, “a horse placed in advance of the other horses of a team”).
One thing all of these associations have in common is the team aspect. Like the plant, a human leader is part and parcel of the group.
Related reading: "27 Best Ways to Raise Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace."
So what sets an authentic leader apart from the rest of the group?
Being Authentic in Leadership Increases Connection and Presence
This is where the idea of authenticity becomes paramount.
When you encounter a true leader, you know it.
Their presence is commanding but not demeaning; they forge ahead but not through cold, isolated self-interest; they are both fully connected and a beacon to look toward. They create employee engagement without even trying.
Here, the verbs in the definition of the term leader are telling. A leader by definition is someone who “directs,” “has authority,” “manages,” “presides,” and/or “goes first.”
They go first in paving the way of courageous humility and transparency.
Nowhere is force mentioned, control or power!
When discussing leadership with a colleague, I was told this unusual example of what a leader meant to her.
With the term “leader,” what came to mind was a boot-clad teacher with long blonde hair, two children, and the look of a former women’s water polo player. Surprising, right?
She continues:
She is wearing a grey sweater dress, standing in the basement room of a small, private college in Portland, Oregon, and talking about long-form journalism. She was loud but nonabrasive. She placed her students in uncomfortable situations, like shadowing their heroes, to let them learn for themselves. She was technically a non-tenured Media and Society professor with a softball hobby, but she is the leader in my mind because of the way she made me feel and grow. She became my example, and now I am inspired to lead as she did.
A leader could be defined in many ways—the tendons that cause physical movement; punctuation like ellipsis used to lead the eye; a lure guiding fish into a trap; a blank section at the beginning or end of a reel of film or recorded tape.
The Meaning of an Authentic Leader
To be authentic, however, has less to do with what you’re connected to and more to do with the fact that you are indeed connected to the whole.
And because you're connected to the whole, you have work-life balance.
It is a profound understanding and acknowledgment that you are an integral part of a larger whole and you lead from this truth.
This sense of belonging and interconnectedness creates a deeper awareness of your role within the broader context of your team, company, and community. It is this self- and other-awareness that transforms how you lead.
One must lead oneself before leading others.
By recognizing that your actions and decisions impact not only yourself but also those around you, you cultivate a sense of responsibility while also being an empathetic leader.
This kind of authentic leadership allows you to prioritize effectively, ensuring that you nurture both your professional aspirations and personal well-being.
Embracing this holistic perspective enables you to lead with authenticity, creating a company culture where both you and those you lead can thrive.
One could slightly edit Jobs’ statement in the 2003 interview to read: “Great things are never done by one person. They are grown by an authentic leader."
Related reading: Check out our blog "Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in Leadership."
For emotional intelligence training, team building, or to learn skills to be an authentic leader, contact us at Heartmanity.
