POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
LEADERSHIP AUTHENTICITY… WHAT IT REALLY MEANS There is a lot of talk now about leaders needing to be authentic. But what does that really mean? I have heard people misconstrue the meaning. They take the word authentic, to mean, I can just be myself. But just being yourself is not that simple.
— BY ROSS SWAN There can be a difference between being truly
Seeing yourself through others means you
authentic and just being yourself. The question
become a person who is not staying true to
here is, what is driving ‘being yourself’? Are you
themself, but a person staying true to other’s
being a reflection of your inner self or are you a
expectations. How often do we see executives
reflection of the people around you?
continually rate themselves against others for the wrong reasons? Playing office politics,
Authenticity is a continuous connectivity
winning at the expense of others, and the list
between the head, the heart, and the soul.
goes on.
Understanding, and then living that, makes one truly authentic. If you continually see yourself
Don’t get me wrong, you can be influenced
through the eyes of others, then that will change
by others, having mentors and role models
the equation.
are healthy learning opportunities. But that’s
38 NOV-DEC 2020
