Finding purpose in your work is the secret to unleashing your leadership potential. As Bill George, a senior fellow at Harvard Business School and former CEO of Medtronic, said, "Making money for shareholders is not a purpose. Saving lives, addressing climate change, offsetting income inequality—these are valid purposes." It is crucial to identify what about your job makes it worth getting out of bed (especially once your financial needs are met). Focusing on this will give you the motivation and courage to be authentic. Being authentic maximizes your leadership potential and is the path to finding alignment between what you do and who you aspire to be.
How to Become an Authentic Leader
Reflect on Your Values: Understand what truly matters to you. Your values are your compass, guiding your decisions and actions. The employees, bosses, and stakeholders you work with want you to be trustworthy and consistent. When you stick to your values, you will find it easier to honor your commitments and deliver against your promises because your actions align with your identity and sense of self. Take this assessment if you are looking for help defining your values.
Define Your Origin Story: Everyone has a story. Understanding yours helps you connect with others and adds depth to your leadership style. Brené Brown, a research professor and author, suggests that vulnerability is crucial to authentic leadership and that sharing your story is courageous. Learn about the public narrative framework.
Define Your Signature Strengths: Identify your unique talents and capitalize on them. Don Clifton, the father of strengths-based leadership, believed that focusing on your strengths leads to greater success and fulfillment. When you own and lean into your strengths, you position yourself as a leader in your chosen work. Take the Gallup StrengthFinders assessment.
Avoid the Cookie-Cutter Definition of Leadership
There is No One Type of Leader: The idea that all leaders must fit a specific mold needs to be updated. Diversity in leadership styles fosters innovation and adaptability. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Do not follow where the path may lead. To prove this point, Google influential Business leaders and research the people that come up. You will see a wide array of men and women, introverts and extroverts, and personalities of all types. What makes you special as a leader is your uniqueness.
Study the Leaders Around You and Build a Collage of the Best Parts of Their Style and Approach: You have seen different leadership approaches at work, in your personal life, in history, and in politics. Consider the actions and behaviors that align with the type of leader you aspire to be. Pay attention to what works for others, and determine the elements you should incorporate into your approach. By taking best practices from others and making them your own, you can develop an approach uniquely yours.
Accept that not everyone will like your leadership style. Just as some people like Pepsi and others like Coke, others will not appreciate your leadership approach. The great thing about capitalism is that people can pick where they work. If you discover that your approach is not a good fit within your current company, be open to searching for a company that will appreciate your uniqueness and give you the room to be the best version of yourself.
What Do You Need to Accelerate Your Growth?
A Leadership Development Plan: Clarify who you are and who you want to become. A well-structured plan outlines your goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. Your plan should include skills you need to build and experiences you need to have to enhance your judgment, decision-making, and ability to influence others. As Warren Bennis once said, "It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from followers."
Mentors, Coaches, and Trainers: Seek guidance from experienced individuals who can help you hone your skills and overcome challenges. No one is born a leader. Leadership is a skill developed through learning, development, and intentional action. The more you learn about leadership from others, the less you have to learn from trial and error. How to pick the right coach.
Reflection and Continuous Improvement Process: The best way for you to master leadership is through experience. Whether you must convince others to take action or make a big decision, your leadership potential is only known once it is tested. At that decisive moment, you learn a lesson about yourself, whether you experience the joy of success or the pain of failure. Establishing a practice of reflection and using insights to improve is the fastest way to grow as a leader. Check out the Rosebud app to help with reflection.
Summary: Reaching Your Leadership Potential
Unlocking your leadership potential requires self-reflection and a willingness to grow. Refrain from accepting the pre-defined scripts about leadership. You can be the leader you aspire to be. Find guides who can support you on your journey, and never stop learning and evolving. Remember, authentic leadership is not about fitting in but standing out.
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As an executive coach, I assist business owners, executives, and middle managers in clarifying their professional goals, developing skills, and growing their capabilities so they can reach their full potential.
Whether you want to lead more effectively, acquire a new role, or earn a promotion, I am here to help you accelerate your growth and achieve more.
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