There is a lot of talk about 'authenticity' and the importance of being genuine. How do you define authenticity?
What does it mean in leadership?
One of my values is positivity and one of my core needs is fun.
It has been a fine line of balance in nearly every role I have had, as well as in my coaching and training, to allow this part of me to come through and yet balance it with what is both professional and appropriate.
It has taken me a little while as a business owner to embrace this as something that perhaps makes me different and what draws some people to me … and probably others away!
I can see, on reflection, that over the years as I started as a team leader and worked my way up into senior leadership roles I often held back my character, as I was worried that being a young, female leader who made jokes and had fun in work would be perceived as juvenile or immature and therefore not taken seriously.
In each role, it would take time as I felt trust and rapport build before I found moments where it felt appropriate to allow my character to come through a bit more.
I can see now that I was in self-protection, self-preservation mode. I can also see that it held back building that trust and rapport as people could see I was ‘masking’ or holding back and I think that naturally creates suspicion – especially in a policing environment!
I felt that I had to conform with the leadership style that I had seen at the senior levels until I saw different.
Until I worked with someone who had a similar character, who did have fun and was positive. Who had been promoted to higher ranks being authentically themselves.
I had to see it in someone else, who had achieved success to give me some confidence that I could be more ‘me’.
I wanted to be a leader that people trusted and respected and wanted to work with. I also wanted to create a team environment build on trust and openness, where people could come to work and be themselves, and work in a way that worked best for them, even if it was different to others.
I knew that I needed to walk the talk to be able to do this.
Cohesive, high-performing teams thrive when there is mutual respect and trust. They also, in my opinion, cannot exist unless authenticity, and difference, are encouraged, celebrated and valued.
The way we think, the way we communicate, and the way we express ourselves. The approaches we take and the way we reflect and take action, all provide valuable contributions.
For us to create and influence this as leaders we must step into this ourselves.
We must lead by example and be okay with our differences.
After all, we didn’t get to the position we are in without them.
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If you’ve ever felt the pressure to conform to a leadership style that doesn’t resonate with who you truly are, or if you’re struggling to build trust within your team, I invite you to book a call with me.
We can talk through how you can develop authentic leadership skills that not only elevate your team but also align with your core values.
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