There seems to be an endless amount of information written about leadership and what it means to be a leader.
Leadership is often bestowed on you by title or position… but I got to thinking: is that really leadership? Aren’t we all leaders in one area of our lives or another?
To lead implies that you must have followers. However, power given through title alone, in no way suggests people will follow.
The reason being? People don’t follow a person as much as they follow a movement that they feel like they belong to; they embrace a vision that resonates deep within them. People choose to belong.
I like how Cornell University describes belonging. “Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group. It is when an individual can bring their authentic self to work.”
Belonging requires authenticity.
An authentic leader is one that paints a clear picture for us, and shows us what might be. They give us a direction to move in and a shared goal to strive for.
I believe that strong and authentic leaders do the following:
- Understand that visions become bigger when we go together vs. go alone
- Have the ability to speak not just to our logical brains, but to our hearts and souls alike
- Put the vision first, and themselves last
- Understand that we are all connected within a much bigger system
In a system, it only takes the movement of one piece to start a chain reaction.
Imagine the power of such a chain reaction when it’s started from a place of authenticity; a place that requires one to be real… a place of truth and a place of belonging.
I recall Sylvia Lafair PhD, CEO of Creative Energy Options Inc teaching “when one person is willing to be authentic, he or she gives space for others to risk telling their truth also.”
It seems to me like we’re in a time when people are confused about what it means to be a leader. Or even worse, those who may be willing and able to lead are sitting back, unwilling to take on the challenges of navigating an increasingly polarized communication environment.
That said, I think that now, more than ever, we need authentic leaders in all walks of life.
AKA — we need YOU, now!
Please share your leadership journey in the comments so that we can learn together about what makes for authentic leaders.
Remember: Soar, Don’t Settle!