The true power of authentic leadership

When it comes to discussing leadership styles, authentic leadership is often overlooked.

However, it can be shown that the power of authentic leadership is a key driving force that literally makes the world go round.

In fact, authentic leadership has specific characteristics that distinguish it from other leadership styles.

According to Harvard Business School Online, the epitome of authentic leadership consists of three major characteristics:

1) Integrity

2) Responsibility

3) Principle

1) Integrity

Unless a leader’s behavior is characterized by integrity, he or she cannot be described as an authentic leader.

Allowing for a certain degree of flexibility, in order to avoid the perils of unnecessary and counter-productive stubbornness and single-mindedness, integrity is essential for a leader to be able to earn the trust of his or her team members.

Team members want to know where exactly they stand and what to expect from their leader at all times.

Even more than that, the integrity of an authentic leader elevates him or her in the eyes of team members, who see him or her as a safe refuge to turn to in the face of adverse circumstances.

This can help an authentic leader to boost his or her effectiveness, since team members who trust their leader are willing to perform better.

2) Responsibility

An authentic leader will not hesitate to take responsibility.

However, his or her pro-responsibility attitude should not be confused with the behavior of a leader who micromanages, for example.

It is also in stark contrast with the practices embraced by a seagull leader, who only makes noise and seems to be absent when the time comes to take responsibility.

Team members who are led by an authentic leader are inspired by his or her pro-responsibility approach to leadership, and not hesitate to take their own responsibility, as a result, whenever they are required to do so.

Thus, by following their leader’s example and espousing responsibility, team members stop blaming others and start taking actual ownership of their organization, which has a multiplier effect on their performance.

3) Principle

When it comes to mainstream leadership styles, such as democratic, autocratic, or laissez-faire, to name a few, leaders who adopt such a style follow practices, methods, and strategies that are in line with that leadership style.

Authentic leaders, on the other hand, do not advocate such an approach, but they rather identify and stick to a set of principles that serve as their guide on various occasions.

Although their approach may seem to lag behind in the beginning, by adhering to their true, sincere, and authentic principles they can enjoy more long-term and stable success in the end.

Conclusion

It wouldn’t be strange or rare for an authentic leader to ensure the long-standing support and commitment of loyal team members.

This directly results from the authentic leader’s characteristics that make up his or her authenticity, i.e. integrity, responsibility, and principle.

Through those characteristics, an authentic leader can rise above and beyond leaders who prefer to follow other leadership styles.

Therefore, the effectiveness of authentic leadership can span to such an extent that it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that it rules the world through the impact of leaders who adopt it.

Sources and further reading:
Authentic leadership: What it is & why it’s important