Lead Authentically - Maximize Your Impact by Showing Up as Your Best Self
Very early in my career I learned about Executive Presence, which included principles like leading with poise, confidence, and grace. After spending years honing that skill, I realized that my definition also included assimilation. Breaking through that barrier and finding my authentic leadership style revealed an entirely new world where I was more productive, built better relationships, and expanded my influence.
Leading authentically and with intention can have an exponential impact on your team, company, and industry. Leading with your whole self begins with having clarity on your values, what makes you unique, and making decisions based on what feels right for you instead of what’s safe. My path was hard fought, but here are a few key concepts I learned on my journey to authentic leadership.
Find your authentic leadership style
You don’t have to lead the same way your boss does. You can learn something from everyone, every class, or book, but there’s only one you. How those lessons and life experience come together is what builds your unique leadership style. Consider the below as you discover your authentic leadership style:
- Leading Yourself Before Leading Others. Knowing what you believe in, your triggers, and what works for you is the first step. Not sure where to begin? Ask yourself when you were the happiest or when have you felt fulfilled, even delving into what doesn’t work for you is a good starting point.
- Living your values is just as important as knowing them. Even the most tenured leader can find themselves acting out of alignment with their values, leading to ‘when good people do bad things.’
- Aligning your values with your team and organization. Knowing where to be flexible and where to stand firm as you work with other styles, looking to engage with those who are different and being open to evolving your perspective.
Reframe imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a feeling that you are not worthy of what you have achieved or that you will be caught in the act of faking it. As I worked with other leaders, I realized that almost everyone experiences imposter syndrome to some degree and that’s okay! To move beyond it, try to:
- Leverage your experiences to identify how you can add value. Once you know what makes you unique and are comfortable with your personal success metrics, you’re no longer using others as a measuring stick to determine your value.
- Focus on helping the business or others. Shifting your perspective to helping versus ‘standing out’ can help calm nerves and reframe feelings of doubt.
- What’s in your control? With limited resources, where can you make the greatest impact? Starting within your team or department can create a spark others will want to follow, helping to create the change you want to see more broadly.
Embrace your inner coach and inner critic
Part of leading authentically is acknowledging the voices inside of you and accepting them as part of who you are. We have an inner coach that is urging us to be our best selves and achieve our dreams. We also have an inner critic that focuses on second guessing our every decision, it’s often what keeps us from speaking up or making bold decisions.
The critic is extremely valuable, in small doses it can give honest feedback on where to improve. The key is not letting it dominate. My critic overwhelmed my actions early in my career and I would shun the inner coach. Now I can acknowledge areas of improvement, take steps to address that gap AND take a moment to reflect on what I’ve accomplished, encouraging myself to continually step out of my comfort zone. The balance is key. As a leader, it’s important to acknowledge both parts of ourselves and help your team embrace both as well.
Grow your influence
Having a title doesn’t make you a leader, having influence does.
When your values, decisions, and actions are aligned, others will want to be part of your circle and will work tirelessly to see your vision come to life. Actions matter, but words do as well. Communicating your vision in a way that resonates across departments, levels, and styles, is key to building your influence as a leader, adapting, but not conforming to your audience. Rooted in your values, you’ll know where to be flexible and the lines you simply won’t cross.
You won’t always get it right but be willing to act despite the outcome. As an authentic, inclusive, and transparent leader, your team will remain by your side and work collaboratively to figure out the next move.
Conclusion
Leading authentically is one of the most challenging and rewarding paths to take. When you lead with your whole self, you will have a positive impact on your team, company, and industry. To lead authentically, you must first find your authentic leadership style, embrace your inner coach and inner critic, and grow your influence. But remember, you can’t do it alone.
Willingness to be vulnerable, asking for help from those your trust, admitting when you’re wrong, and building authentic relationships will help you continue to grow as a leader. The work to be our best selves is ever evolving, keep pushing forward!
Leading authentically and with intention can have an exponential impact on your team, company, and industry. Leading with your whole self begins with having clarity on your values, what makes you unique, and making decisions based on what feels right for you instead of what’s safe.