3 core principles for authentic leadership

With the avalanche of information and technological change, an understanding of what creates authentic leadership is continually being challenged.

How does one lead in the threshold of the increased influence of social media, an ever-expansive cyber world, artificial intelligence, and abundant moral relativity?

How does a leader guide and provide encouragement and reassurance amid social and economic uncertainty?

What leadership principles can a leader utilize to unite their followers, create an organizational culture where people believe they are coming to work for something greater than themselves, and where in their work and family environment they feel valued?

How does one become a more “authentic leader”?

It begins with a clear understanding of your primary personal core values. What values do you adhere to when presented with a challenge? Is it your resiliency, honesty, compassion, curiosity, gratitude, etc.? When the curve ball is thrown your way, what’s your backstop? When was the last time you took a moment to ask yourself that question?

Understanding the ‘Core Four’

An exercise I incorporate in my presentations is asking participants to write down what I call their ‘Core Four.’ These are the values leaders believe sincerely reflect the structure of their character. It is an eye-opening and validating exercise and is appreciated by all. It also provides a deeper understanding of what is important to their colleagues and team members.

Core values are analogous to guardrails on the road. They keep us on the road. We may hit a bump or two, even hit the guardrail, but at least we stay on the road.

Core values keep us personally, professionally and organizationally moving in a positive and decisive direction. They are the foundation for a clearly defined business culture, providing a greater sense of purpose behind why and what we do every day.

3 key principles for authentic leadership

Your blueprint for character and leadership development begins with an understanding of the core values you hold dear. This immediately leads to the potential for a higher level of personal and professional accountability, and a greater ability to be personally honest, resulting in you being a person of integrity.

Vulnerability, humility and transparency are three principles that not only bring back humanness into the work environment but also create a more impactful level of authentic leadership. This trio of principles inspires people to feel included and valued in the operational process, enhances professional and personal relationships, and opens greater avenues to more effective communication, in turn, trust, and organizational health.

1. Vulnerability

To display a level of vulnerability is not an excuse for a weakness, but rather an opportunity to lower your emotional walls and inspire others to lower theirs. It takes strength to show a level of vulnerability.

This communicates to those you lead an understanding that we are all in this journey called life, family and career together.

When you open your heart tactfully and thoughtfully and display a level of vulnerability, it encourages and elevates communication. You are more human, relatable and authentic, resulting in a greater willingness and comfort among those you lead to communicate with you.

This creates a safer leadership environment resulting in a higher level of trust among the team members.

2. Humility

To be humble is to think more of others than yourself. To realize that all the answers to all the issues do not only exist with you but can be found in the collective strengths and talents of those you lead.

Humility does not excuse a leader from having to be accountable for their team’s results. Instead, it creates a team that collectively wants to participate in the process.

With a greater sense of ownership for their role in the outcome, the team will be more cooperative, collaborative, and inspired to succeed.

3. Transparency

Transparency indicates honesty and conveys a leader’s willingness to be truthful. Certainly, a breath of fresh air is experienced when transparency is real, and, in turn, will be reciprocated by those led.

When a leader is transparent there is nothing to hide, so nothing to fear. So simple, but so internally destructive for those who deceive. Transparency by a leader conveys trust in your team and the process. It enables greater accountability on all levels of leadership because there is honest clarity in the operational process.

The beauty of this trio of leadership principles — vulnerability, humility and transparency — is that all three are interdependent on one another. When a leader is vulnerable they are more likely to display a level of humility. When a leader is humble they are more likely to be transparent.

In any order, this powerhouse of leadership qualities can propel a leader and their team to greater levels of achievement, mutual respect, accountability, cooperation and loyalty to one another. It creates an environment that respects the importance, originality and value of authentic leadership and being an authentic person.

Want to learn more? Then be sure to register for Jay’s discussion, No Excuse: Incorporating Core Values & Accountability Into Your Life & Career, which includes a facilitated Q&A session with Vistage Chair Ana Quinn.

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