The Key to Authentic Leadership
I once worked for a boss nicknamed ‘Voldemort’ because their leadership style was rooted in fear. Several leaders burned out, and one even ended up in the ER, fearing they were having a heart attack, but it was stress. After I left, I vowed never again to work in a toxic environment or for a toxic boss. Leadership is a privilege and vowed to be the change I wanted to see. My goal was to be the kind of leader whose influence leaves an impression. My purpose? To transform lives, one journey at a time.
Be Self Aware
Authentic leaders regularly reflect on themselves, striving to remain deeply self-aware. They know their strengths and weaknesses; they know they are not perfect and lead by example by being serial learners who look to improve themselves daily. I spend 5-10% of my earnings annually on personal, professional development and coaching. And yes, that is in addition to my company stipend. How can you expect your team to grow if you are not growing too?
Leadership today requires a deeper level of connection, and that comes from stripping away the layers of pretense and embracing who you truly are. People do not follow titles; they follow authenticity. As Brené Brown aptly states: “Vulnerability is not about winning or losing; it’s about having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome.” This is the type of leadership that builds trust and inspires others.
Celebrate Collective Achievement
True leaders—those who inspire their teams and drive long-term success—know that achievements are rarely the result of one person’s work. It is a collective achievement; they are experts at building diverse teams with complimenting skill sets to drive positive outcomes and go further together. I define diversity not just by gender or race but background too. I have a non-traditional sales background and always look at people for what transferrable skills their experience might bring. Often all they needed was a chance to prove themselves and many turned out to be the rock stars on the team. A fresh perspective and being coachable can also breathe new life into a stagnant team. Leaders do not miss these hidden gems in your hiring process.
Creating space for others to shine, being open to feedback (even if it is harsh) because you have created a safe environment and admitting to not knowing it all. It is about being brave enough to say, “I don’t know, but I’m willing to figure it out with you.” Of course, great leaders also leverage their network but so often the greatest ideas come out of this collaboration create stronger teams. Never forget everything is “figureoutable”. The real question is “How long is the runway with the resources you have?”
Success leaves clues. Be a lifelong student. Study and learn from other great leaders.
Take Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, famously shifted Microsoft’s toxic, competitive culture to one rooted in empathy and collaboration. Nadella achieved this shift not by dominating but by leading with vulnerability and humility. In his words: “Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place. Leadership is about learning and relearning.”
That is the heart of it: leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room. It is about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. It is about being authentic, even when it is uncomfortable, and having the courage to be vulnerable with your team.
So how do you become this kind of leader?
It starts with self-awareness. Yes, hold up that mirror and ask yourself: Am I leading from a place of ego, or am I showing up as my authentic self? When you walk into a room, are you listening more than you speak? Are you open to being wrong, or are you clinging to control?
As leaders, we must remember that our teams are watching. Inspiring leaders are real, not afraid to be vulnerable, and are willing to grow alongside their teams. So, check your ego at the door and show up as the kind of leader who build not just businesses, but legacies by impacting the people they lead.
In the end, leadership isn’t about you—it’s about the lasting impact you leave on those around you. And that starts with being brave enough to be yourself.
