An Excerpt from Mastering Leadership: An Integrated Framework for Breakthrough Performance and Extraordinary Business Results, by Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams (Wiley, 2015)

Authentic leadership encourages an environment where you feel safe to express yourself, take risks, and work towards a shared vision. This authenticity fosters strong team morale and loyalty. Authenticity is also about being genuine, transparent, and true to your values as a leader. Authentic leaders don't put on a facade or pretend to be something they're not; instead, they show up as their real selves. This kind of leadership builds trust and credibility because followers see the leader as consistent, honest, and reliable. Authentic leaders are becoming an endangered species, and we need to reinforce the importance of leadership authenticity and speak about the benefits of authenticity. Authenticity is your ability to relate to others in an authentic, courageous, and high integrity manner.

Authentic leaders foster trust because they’re open, honest, and consistent. Trust helps team members feel safe, encouraging openness and collaboration. Team members tend to be more engaged and motivated when they feel valued and understood by an authentic leader. Authentic leaders are self-aware and grounded in their values, enabling them to make thoughtful, principled decisions, even in tough situations. Authentic leaders tend to be open to feedback and self-improvement, making them adaptable and better equipped to handle change or setbacks. Are you an authentic leader?

Leading by integrity is about guiding others with a strong moral foundation, prioritizing honesty, ethics, and consistency in actions and decisions. Leaders who lead by integrity are committed to doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult, and serve as role models by holding themselves and others accountable to high ethical standards. Leading by integrity is another challenging area for some leaders these days. They rather follow the popular culture than stay true to their values. The US elections have revealed to me a few things about leadership that is troubling.

Leaders with integrity communicate openly and truthfully, sharing information transparently, whether the news is good or bad. They act in alignment with their stated values and principles, avoiding double standards or contradictions. These leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions, admitting mistakes openly and working to correct them rather than shifting blame. They treat everyone fairly and respectfully, valuing all voices and avoiding favoritism or bias and make decisions based on ethical principles, not just personal gain or convenience, even when these choices may not be the easiest or most profitable. Let me stop here!

We need to go back to leadership authenticity and lead with integrity. The world is a better place when we have leaders who believe in the foundational principles of leadership authenticity and leading with integrity. Have a great week.