What is authenticity and why is it important to leadership?
Leadership isn't something we do in response to our circumstances. It's a way of being. You don't DO leadership. You ARE a leader. Leadership comes from within. It is an ongoing and consistent expression of who we are that inspires others to action. Authentic leaders know themselves and their purpose; they use that knowledge as their internal compass. When we align our actions with our sense of purpose, we act authentically; we take a stand, living centered, calm, powerful lives. We are in control of our feelings and emotions, rather than letting them control us.
Authenticity is about having personal integrity, being genuine, and acting in a way that is true to yourself and your beliefs, no matter what. It's about NOT putting up a facade, NOT being aloof or inaccessible.
Our sense of another's authenticity has an enormous impact on whether or not we trust them, how comfortable we are with them, and how willing we are to follow them. Authenticity, then, is critical to effective leadership.
Doing vs. being
Some corporate executives are motivated primarily by money, earning six- and seven-figure incomes. Others are motivated by "the game", by winning, and besting others who may be competing for limited corporate resources needed to implement their plans. Typically, these executives reach a place where they burn out, or become increasingly dissatisfied by their day-to-day routines. As a result, their teams suffer and are not as productive, or effective, as they could be.
The best leaders are guided by a deeper purpose - to create a product or service, for example, that delights their customers, or leaves a mark on the world in some way that is meaningful to them. When authentic leaders do this well, they can sustain success and the seven-figure income, along with a genuine feeling of accomplishment, of having made a significant contribution.
When we clarify our true purpose, we come to understand what gives meaning to the things we do. Our purpose gives us guidance on how to do things. For example, my purpose is to live powerfully, contribute to the creation of powerful lives, and connect communities of people. I've chosen to do this through my career as a Leadership Development Specialist and Executive Coach. My purpose doesn't dictate my profession or what I do. I could live purposefully in many others roles: I could have chosen to teach or to be a leader in a corporate setting. My purpose guides how I do what I've chosen to do. And it shows up outside of work, also, in how I contribute in my community, behave in my family, and so on. It is my internal compass.
When I start playing small (holding back and not being powerful), or when I'm being stingy with my time and talents, I can feel it in my body. I feel uncentered, uncomfortable, and unfulfilled. I'm at my best when I am being myself, connecting members of my various networks, and inspiring and supporting others to be their best. It's from this place of purpose that I do my best work.
Of course, living on purpose means that you may not 'fit' or be successful or happy in every setting. But that's OK. You will be most successful and make the greatest contribution in the place where you can be your fully genuine, purposeful, authentic, wonderful self.
So, how do you become an authentic leader?
1. Know the leader you want to be. Clarify your purpose. Create a vision for yourself as an authentic leader. Identify your deepest values. Think about leaders you admire. What is it about them you want to emulate? What is the legacy you want to leave? Picture how it looks and feels to be being the best, most authentic leader you can be.
2. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Especially in this fast paced, global, technological world, we can't be experts in everything. Nor do we necessarily want or have time to be. Be honest about what you can do well and enjoy doing and what is best left to others.
3. Identify the gaps between your vision and current reality. Determine which gaps you want to close by learning and growing your own expertise and which ones you want to fill with the talents of others.
4. Identify sources and opportunities for development. Pursue them with a beginner's mind. Enjoy the learning process.
5. When making decisions or engaged in discussions, ask yourself, "What does my authentic self tell me to do?" Even if it is a difficult decision, check in with yourself and ask, "How can I make and communicate it in a way that is an expression of my purpose and in integrity with my values?"
6. As you begin to use newly learned behaviors, be generous and forgiving with yourself. The leader who can forgive him/herself can forgive others.
7. Create visual cues to remind yourself to be your newly discovered real self when self-doubt begins to creep in. Post-it notes, special screen savers, mantras, a rubber band around your wrist, or New Leaf Touchstone bracelets or pocket stones can help.
About the Author:
Cindy Loughran is a certified professional coach and the founder and president of New Leaf Touchstone. Her products and services help people break out of their habitual patterns and make desired changes in order to turn over a new leaf and create a fulfilling and satisfying life. http://www.newleaftouchstone.com
Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century for inspiring, thoughtful and useful articles on Personal Development.
Showing posts with label purpose in life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose in life. Show all posts
Friday, 15 May 2009
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Empowerment Quiz
Take this quiz to find out how YOU are doing on your journey to your dreams!
Here are 10 questions to find out if you are on track, on passion and on purpose in life!
1. Do you wake up in the morning excited about the day?
2. Is it easy for you to make decisions about life because you’re so clear about what you want?
3. Do you tend to bring to you seemingly “fortunate coincidences or opportunities”?
4. When you look at yourself do you notice a glow on your face or a sparkle in your eye?
5. Do you find that little things or even big dramas do not distract you for long?
6. Do you feel a sense of natural motivation to just do what you need to get done?
7. Do you find that you are attracting the right people to you to help with the accomplishment of your vision?
8. Do you feel a sense of gratitude and a propulsion to fulfill your destiny?
9. Do you find that you are hitting your 3-month, 6-month and 1-year goals fairly accurately?
10. When you are working, do you lose track of time and feel you could go on forever?
If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, here are a few tips to get you back on track!
1. Imagine that ANYTHING is possible, and take some time to write down exactly what would be the perfect life for you.
2. Write down your IDEAL DAY. Use as many sensory details as possible.
3. Make a list of all your skills, talents, gifts, attributes, etc. then look for ways to bring those things to the market place to create value for others, which will create income for yourself!
4. Find your “evidence procedure” for one of your goals which is the end step — you can find this by asking yourself “What is the last thing that has to happen for me to KNOW that I achieved my outcome?” — then write down what you will be thinking, believing and DOING when you achieve that goal!
5. Set boundaries for yourself and others to insure that you will stay on track towards your goals. (Boundaries are your own little rule book as to what you will and will not accept in your life) Then stick to them as a gift to yourself!
6. Remember, every time you honour your own values, you BUILD YOUR OWN SELF ESTEEM AND SELF RESPECT!! (Not to mention others will have respect for you too.)
7. Write down your 5-year, 1-year, 6-months and 3-month goals. Get clear on what ACTION STEPS you would need to take EACH DAY to ensure that you hit these goals and deadlines.
8. Find a great mentor. Find someone who has done what you want to do and study everything you can about them! What do they think? What do they believe? How do they problem solve? What skills and talents do they have? What actions do they take? Then adopt all their habits yourself. If you don’t actually KNOW the person or they are a celebrity of some kind, read everything you can on them, watch videos on them and learn the things they know.
9. Make a list of all those things you are grateful for. Write “I am so grateful for…” then include anything and everything that you appreciate—from the blue sky to the fact that you found a great parking spot that day. You will be amazed at how much you already have! Then you are no longer focused on what you don’t want or what you don’t have. Instead you proceed with your dreams in the state of “the wish fulfilled!”
10. Be a student of personal development. Be willing to continue to learn, grow and evolve into who and what you want to be. Never give up. Have the flexibility of behaviour. That really means that if you try something and it doesn’t work…what do you do? Try again…if that doesn’t work …TRY AGAIN until you achieve your outcome! Remember, there is no failure, only feedback. If you keep at anything long enough YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!
11. Share what you do know with others starting on the path. You don’t realize how much you know until you start to teach it! Being a role model to others enforces excellence in your own behaviours and thinking and holds you to your own high standards.
Click here if you would like two FREE guest tickets for Christopher Howard's three-day empowering "Breakthrough to Success" seminar a FREE guest ticket plus one for a friend. Chris uses advanced hypnosis and NLP techniques to bring major breakthroughs to people's lives in the fields of career, finances, relationships, health etc. There are seminars in London, Dublin, USA, Australia and New Zealand. People travel from all over the world to attend. The energy is exhilarating and the seminar is a great opportunity to network with positive thinking people.
I also recommend Christopher Howard's book Turning Passions into Profits
available from Amazon.
Antonia Stuart-James 2008 from Personal Development in the 21st Century and Hypnotherapy for Positive Change
Here are 10 questions to find out if you are on track, on passion and on purpose in life!
1. Do you wake up in the morning excited about the day?
2. Is it easy for you to make decisions about life because you’re so clear about what you want?
3. Do you tend to bring to you seemingly “fortunate coincidences or opportunities”?
4. When you look at yourself do you notice a glow on your face or a sparkle in your eye?
5. Do you find that little things or even big dramas do not distract you for long?
6. Do you feel a sense of natural motivation to just do what you need to get done?
7. Do you find that you are attracting the right people to you to help with the accomplishment of your vision?
8. Do you feel a sense of gratitude and a propulsion to fulfill your destiny?
9. Do you find that you are hitting your 3-month, 6-month and 1-year goals fairly accurately?
10. When you are working, do you lose track of time and feel you could go on forever?
If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, here are a few tips to get you back on track!
1. Imagine that ANYTHING is possible, and take some time to write down exactly what would be the perfect life for you.
2. Write down your IDEAL DAY. Use as many sensory details as possible.
3. Make a list of all your skills, talents, gifts, attributes, etc. then look for ways to bring those things to the market place to create value for others, which will create income for yourself!
4. Find your “evidence procedure” for one of your goals which is the end step — you can find this by asking yourself “What is the last thing that has to happen for me to KNOW that I achieved my outcome?” — then write down what you will be thinking, believing and DOING when you achieve that goal!
5. Set boundaries for yourself and others to insure that you will stay on track towards your goals. (Boundaries are your own little rule book as to what you will and will not accept in your life) Then stick to them as a gift to yourself!
6. Remember, every time you honour your own values, you BUILD YOUR OWN SELF ESTEEM AND SELF RESPECT!! (Not to mention others will have respect for you too.)
7. Write down your 5-year, 1-year, 6-months and 3-month goals. Get clear on what ACTION STEPS you would need to take EACH DAY to ensure that you hit these goals and deadlines.
8. Find a great mentor. Find someone who has done what you want to do and study everything you can about them! What do they think? What do they believe? How do they problem solve? What skills and talents do they have? What actions do they take? Then adopt all their habits yourself. If you don’t actually KNOW the person or they are a celebrity of some kind, read everything you can on them, watch videos on them and learn the things they know.
9. Make a list of all those things you are grateful for. Write “I am so grateful for…” then include anything and everything that you appreciate—from the blue sky to the fact that you found a great parking spot that day. You will be amazed at how much you already have! Then you are no longer focused on what you don’t want or what you don’t have. Instead you proceed with your dreams in the state of “the wish fulfilled!”
10. Be a student of personal development. Be willing to continue to learn, grow and evolve into who and what you want to be. Never give up. Have the flexibility of behaviour. That really means that if you try something and it doesn’t work…what do you do? Try again…if that doesn’t work …TRY AGAIN until you achieve your outcome! Remember, there is no failure, only feedback. If you keep at anything long enough YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!
11. Share what you do know with others starting on the path. You don’t realize how much you know until you start to teach it! Being a role model to others enforces excellence in your own behaviours and thinking and holds you to your own high standards.
Click here if you would like two FREE guest tickets for Christopher Howard's three-day empowering "Breakthrough to Success" seminar a FREE guest ticket plus one for a friend. Chris uses advanced hypnosis and NLP techniques to bring major breakthroughs to people's lives in the fields of career, finances, relationships, health etc. There are seminars in London, Dublin, USA, Australia and New Zealand. People travel from all over the world to attend. The energy is exhilarating and the seminar is a great opportunity to network with positive thinking people.
I also recommend Christopher Howard's book Turning Passions into Profits
available from Amazon.Antonia Stuart-James 2008 from Personal Development in the 21st Century and Hypnotherapy for Positive Change
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