How to Live Your Authentic Leadership Style so You Can Win and Be Yourself

For many of us, it is awkward and uncomfortable to think of ourselves as leaders. A leader is a big, impressive figure – the President, a Nobel Laureate, the founder of a movement. And yet, every day, employers are calling upon team members, from people managers to CEOs, to lead. And, in 2024, the call is not just to lead, but to lead authentically. 

As recent research has shown, the goalposts when it comes to leadership have changed. While, twelve years ago, executive leaders were expected to be “confident,” “forceful” and “tall” (among other characteristics), today’s leaders are held to a standard that focuses on qualities like “inclusive” and “authentic,” along with more traditional factors such as “command of a room” and “decisiveness.”

So, what does it mean to be an “authentic” leader? 

Authentic leadership is, at its core, about being self-aware and true to yourself in your leadership. On the surface, this means that you show up to work as yourself, leading by leaning into your natural strengths and tendencies to communicate effectively and make the right decisions. 

And yet, it’s not so simple, right? Because to go back to the research cited earlier, a strong leader needs to be both “authentic” and “confident,” “decisive,” and “able to command a room.” What if your authentic self – outside of work – is self-deprecating and doubting, indecisive and shy? Unfortunately, most workplaces don’t want to see that version of your authentic self as a leader. There is no denying that there are limits to authenticity at work. 

To lead authentically – and effectively – is to be a version of your authentic self that meets the needs of your role and the people you serve. This definitely means leaning into your authentic self and sharing who you really are with your team. But it also means curating the parts of your personality that you bring to your role – and faking it until you make it on aspects that are hard for you, but that matter to your team and organization.

Because, while “authenticity” is natural, “authentic leadership” is not. 

To define your authentic leadership style, reflect on the following:

• Think of a time when you were proud of how you showed up as a leader. What did you do that was so effective? 
• Think about a time when you were proud of how you communicated at work. What did you do that made that moment so successful? 
• How do others describe you as a leader?

If you’re feeling brave, ask for input from people who know you well. Together, you can paint a picture of the parts of yourself – “authentic” and “put on” that help you to succeed as a leader. Together, these become your “authentic leadership style” – the approach that fits your role, those you serve, and you, so that you can lead with a style that’s uniquely your own. 

Want to learn more about how we can help you develop as a leader? Click here to read more.