Do your followers know the real you? Each time you are with them, do they see the person that you truly are without any form of façade? Though it’s an overused word these days, are you authentic? Leadership scholars typically describe authentic leaders as individuals who know who they are and what they think and are perceived by others as being aware of their own values, moral perspectives, knowledge and strengths. They possess a pattern of self-awareness, an internalized moral perspective, balanced processing of information and relational transparency. Authentic leaders are free of the need to engage in ego-protecting biases, and they inspire their followers to aspire to live by high values and perform above and beyond expectations. Do your followers see you in this way?
Neil Gaiman, when speaking at a university commencement, stated, “The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That’s the moment you may be starting to get it right.”
As a leader, we must be open, transparent, and authentic with our team, to the point of feeling overexposed. It is then that we are able to connect below the superficial surface of casual relationships and achieve true human connection, and when that happens, the magic begins! We mustn’t be afraid of going deeper with our followers. We must show who we truly are behind the masks of ego, insecurity, pain, and fear. Throw down the mask and show the real you.
Lead well.