Authenticity is the Key to Successful Leadership in Trying Times.

Who else is sick of video calls?  Expressing empathy and maintaining authentic, meaningful connections without face-to-face interaction is extremely challenging. But right now, it’s more critical than ever.

As leaders, we aren’t afforded any leeway during times of crisis. We are expected to watch the bottom line, keep business humming along and customers happy, and continue driving growth no matter the situation. The same is true for engaging with our teams. We have to continue providing guidance and a shared purpose to keep everyone working toward common goals, no matter the adversity.  

But how do you ensure you are providing the guidance, inspiration, transparency, and communication our teams need to stay motivated and engaged?  My experience is that what really works is “keeping it real.” It’s about being truly authentic in all of your interactions.  Having honest, meaningful conversations with team members is essential to building and retaining trust—and trust is what will get you through troubling times. Forbes published a great article on trust that explains it well, “The key success factor becomes the ability to persuade someone over whom you have no power to collaborate with you in pursuit of a common mission.”  Even though the article was published a few years ago, it’s couldn’t be more timely.

Trust, honesty, authenticity—they’re all connected. The fable about George Washington admitting he chopped down the cherry tree was meant to emphasize his inability to be dishonest. But it really goes beyond telling the truth. Being honest is about showing our vulnerabilities, about revealing the truth behind who we are. And that’s the foundation of authenticity. We all recognize inauthentic leadership. We’ve experienced bosses who “talk at” folks, use platitudes, and come off as condescending and out of touch. That approach risks more than just poor engagement scores.  The data tells us that disconnected, out of touch, and disingenuous leadership drives attrition and reduces performance. It also impacts long-term growth and value for your business, as well as your personal brand. 

Your teams need to hear the truth, even if that truth is less than positive. They need to know what you are worried about, what you are excited about, and where you need help. They also need to understand why tough calls are made, as well as the path forward and their role in it.  For me, storytelling, analogies, humor, and even stories about my daughters are how I engage, build camaraderie, trust, and engagement—although I’m pretty sure my girls hate the fact that I use stories of their adventures as a way to connect with teams. For sure I have raised independent, strong-minded young women who have very decided opinions on, well, everything. But they are expressing their true selves. Now if only I could teach them diplomacy. 

We all have an authentic self. As a leader, finding and using that inner voice as you engage with your teams makes all the difference. Although it takes time and extra effort to commit to becoming an authentic leader, the reward is well worth it. While “now more than ever” has become the catch phrase of 2020, when it comes to being an authentic leader, I would say “now and always.” 

In the words of Brené Brown, celebrated author and research professor at the University of Houston, “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”  

For additional reading:

What is Authentic Leadership (Forbes)

Managing Authenticity: The Paradox of Great Leadership (Harvard Business Review)

What Is Authentic Leadership? Do You Have It? (Psychology Today)