People are naturally drawn to authentic leaders, those who are genuine and real. We all want to follow someone who isn’t trying to be someone they’re not, who shows up as their true self without pretending or hiding behind a mask.
But let’s be honest, being authentic as a leader isn’t always easy. It can be tough to know how to truly lead in a way that feels real and not forced.
Here are five habits that will not only help you be more authentic but also make you a great leader:
Follow your dreams.
Authentic leaders are clear on what they want, and they go after it, no matter the outside noise. They don’t let external pressures dictate their decisions, they focus on their passions and vision. By leading with your passions and values, you inspire others to do the same. When your actions align with your vision, it demonstrates true leadership.
Practice self-acceptance.
Nobody’s perfect, and great leaders don’t pretend to be. They embrace their strengths and weaknesses, and they’re open about both. Authentic leaders don’t hide their flaws they use them to connect with others and show vulnerability. Self-acceptance allows you to grow, adapt, and become the kind of leader who inspires others to do the same.
Stay curious.
Authentic leadership thrives on curiosity. The best leaders are always asking questions, listening to new perspectives, and challenging their own assumptions. The more you learn about your team, your industry, and even yourself, the more you can grow as a leader. Being curious helps you keep a fresh perspective and make better decisions based on real knowledge.
Face your fears.
Great leadership requires courage. Being authentic as a leader often means speaking your truth, taking risks, and being vulnerable, and that can be intimidating. But real leadership isn’t about being fearless; it’s about acting despite your fears. When you face your fears, you show your team that it’s okay to take risks and be real, too. This builds trust and strengthens your leadership.
Learn to just be.
In the fast-paced world of leadership, it’s easy to get caught up in constant action. But great leaders know how to slow down and reflect. They don’t just act, they think, they listen, they pause. Taking time for mindfulness and intentionality helps you stay grounded in your values, which makes your leadership more genuine. When you lead by being true to yourself, you create a stronger, more connected team.
Authentic leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being real. By embracing these habits, you’ll not only become a better leader but also inspire your team to lead with purpose, grow, and connect on a deeper level.
The traits of a successful company always point to its leadership. Leadership isn’t just about steering the company; it’s also about tapping into your employees’ needs and helping them overcome challenges to embrace the tasks set before them. This creates loyalty that moves the business strategies of the organisation forward. The result is an employer brand that attracts top talent who serve as the backbone of a strong corporate brand.
That being said, poor leadership can have a different effect, driving talent away from the company and weakening the employer brand.
Become concerned when leaders don’t:
Listen: to those they lead or utilise their talents
Share: intel about the company with their team
Prioritise: honesty or respect with their team
Strong leadership isn’t about perfection. Rather, it’s about not being afraid to fail, admitting to mistakes and staying on course.
When hiring, there are three traits to consider during the interview.
Pay attention to leaders who:
Have people skills: People skills and the ability to excite teams are important. Leaders with these qualities drive growth and are able to represent the external brand with marketing and public relations.
Own their failures: Leaders often focus on their accomplishments. Those who own up to their mistakes are more relatable to not only team members, but external stakeholders.
Empower staff: Strong leaders avoid micromanaging and instead, lean on their staff’s expertise. When employees feel they are empowered, it drives operations and creates great company culture and innovation.
Anyone in a leadership position should be aware of their values, their strengths, and the areas in which they may improve as a leader.
Why?
Because your values influence how you lead, the team environment you build, and the success of your business. Your values as a leader will impact the entire company and influence its performance.
Leaders who practise their values get the respect and commitment of their teams. Value-driven leadership can motivate people to not only follow but also adopt those values.
By accepting the idea that you can acquire leadership abilities, you can also pick which leadership values to develop. This is possible through leadership training as well as conscious attention and practise.
Essential Values to Be a Great Leader
Honesty and transparency
Employees need a leader and mentor who is upfront and honest about their performance, the company’s objectives and goals, and internal challenges.
Transparency does not imply telling everyone everything you hear all at once; there is a time and a place for sharing information.
You should be aware of how new knowledge impacts people and handle it with care, employing concepts such as empathy, communication, and respect as mentioned above.
Nobody likes the feeling of being misled. Leadership with authenticity can go a long way.
Accountability
Accountability is vital in leadership because it ensures that your team is working towards a unified goal and following through on their commitments. It fosters trust and mutual respect between the leader and their team.
Employees will have higher trust in your leadership if you are held accountable for your actions and understand the implications of failing to fulfil expectations. This form of responsibility also encourages innovation among your team members, which can lead to greater success in the long run.
Empowerment and development
As a leader, you carry considerable power. Instead of striving to preserve all of the power and control for themselves, a good leader empowers others and, as a result, enhances their own impact.
Formal employee training, ongoing mentoring, and workforce development can all contribute to employee empowerment. Mentorship and delegation of responsibility can also be beneficial.
A stronger team is formed by empowering others through coaching and delegation of challenging responsibilities. You will be assisting in the development of future leaders on who you can rely on with confidence.
Vision
Leaders are responsible for developing and sustaining the company’s vision. Where does the company want to be in the next 5, 10, or 20 years, and what steps are needed to get there?
As a visionary leader, you should be thinking beyond the next quarter. After reviewing the preceding decade, you should look at the next decade as well as your company’s reputation and position in the world.
When you prioritise vision as a leadership attribute, you keep the broader picture in mind when making decisions.
It also entails planning ahead of time for any problems. Keep an eye out for anything that could obstruct your company’s vision, and be prepared to update it as you gain more experience and information.
Successful leadership includes the ability of the leader to communicate that vision to their team members. The message must be communicated in a way that is meaningful, feasible, and engaging.
Communication
Communication is the foundation of any relationship.
Promoting communication as a basic leadership value presents itself in a variety of ways in the workplace. It can take the form of providing perspective to employees. It can involve establishing clear expectations for individuals as well as teams. Or even providing and requesting constructive feedback.
A leader may have a clear vision, but unless communication is a driving value, others will be unable to share it.
Encouragement and influence
Encouragement and employee recognition are essential forms of communication.
When things are hectic, it’s all too easy to rush through without making an attempt to acknowledge someone’s contribution.
Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is a critical component in increasing employee motivation and engagement. In addition to that, you will have influence as a business leader.
Without recognition, team members’ motivation may diminish and their production will suffer.
By displaying appreciative behaviour, you encourage others to do the same. This improves employees’ morale throughout the company.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand people, see things from their perspective, and feel what they feel. Many top executives and good business leaders hold this value in high respect.
The significance of empathy as a leadership trait goes beyond simply being polite or likeable. You can establish a far stronger team by practising empathy and understanding the intentions of everyone with who you work with.
Empathy will assist you in connecting people’s abilities and skills to roles where they will have the greatest impact. It will assist you in developing and maintaining positive and effective relationships. It will also assist you in identifying the core values of people in your team.
Sincerity
Leaders must always be learning. Being in that open frame of mind requires sincerity.
Opportunities to develop knowledge can easily be lost if you are unwilling to recognise and manage mistakes. Sincerity also entails understanding when to seek feedback from others.
If you lack understanding in a certain field, seek guidance from others with more knowledge. If the strategy isn’t engaging with your target audience, speak to colleagues or customers.
A strong sense of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and sincerity are essential leadership qualities. It keeps leaders from being isolated from the rest of the world.
Passion and commitment
An exceptional leader is not just capable of managing influence or effectively communicating.
They are also committed to attaining organisational goals, enthusiastic about the company and their function as a leader within it, and demonstrate strong determination when faced with adversity.
A leader with this mindset can inspire those around them. Their enthusiasm and energy are contagious, inspiring and motivating the entire workforce.
Respect
Many of the behaviours described below can be used to display respect as a leader:
• Encouraging others
• Excellent communication abilities
• Recognition of employees’ abilities
• Empathising with others’ situations
Respect should be given in all directions, including top management, your board of directors, employees, and customers.
It is also vital to cultivate a culture that values and acknowledges differences. Diverse viewpoints within an organisation are a strength, and those who disagree with you should be treated just as well as those who agree with you.
Patience
Patience is an attribute that is often learned over time, but it is critical for those in positions of leadership.
Leaders must be patient with new hires who are still learning the ropes. They also need to be patient with present team members as they learn how to deal with major challenges. This is especially true in instances where the leader may be more capable of handling things.
Long-term goals, such as quarterly or annual sales targets, also benefit from patience. These goals may only be achieved gradually through perseverance and patience.
Resilience
Change is a necessary aspect of running a business, and as a leader, you frequently bear the burden of substantial change or even instigate it.
You must be able to withstand these challenges not only for yourself, but also for your team.
This is not to say that you cannot have human reactions to challenges; but, your team will eventually respond to how you deal with adversity and communicate outcomes.
Employees turn to their leaders for guidance in unforeseen situations, and a demonstration of endurance at the top will benefit the entire company.
Resilience also has significant benefits. It increases revenue, promotes innovation, and motivates employees.
Integrity
Integrity as a leader involves managing all elements of your work with consistency and order, including how you interact with colleagues, carry out the company’s goals, and deal with unforeseen situations.
Integrity requires fulfilling promises (including yourself) and doing what you say you will do, as well as dealing with challenges in ways that are in line with other values and beliefs.
Employees notice when we simply display our values in good times. When you know your leadership values, review them, and let them drive your actions, you will be leading with integrity no matter what your company faces.
Becoming a great leader is a journey that will continue throughout the course of your career.