We Is an Example of an Authentic Leader
Writing in the Journal of Management, Walumbwa et al. described 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 perspective, knowledge, and strengths.” Concurrently, authentic leadership is “a pattern of leader behavior…of greater self-awareness, an internalized moral perspective, balanced processing of information, and relational transparency.” These definitions apply to what we know of We and how he acted in the parable. By deciding to take it upon himself to do something about the problems his village was facing, We displayed his self-awareness and values, which included a genuine caring for the people for whom he felt responsible. People were a priority, another distinct quality of authentic leaders. Particularly after his experience on the mountain, We showed his ability to process new information is a way that allowed him to change who he was and what he believed. He showed his humility when he admitted that he had been wrong in his earlier viewpoint.
Authentic leadership pioneer Robert Terry stated, “Authenticity entails action that is both true and real in ourselves and in the world. We are authentic when we discern, seek and live into truth, as persons in diverse communities and in the real world.” Again, our hero displayed these qualities because his identity was the result of his values, experiences, and developed self-perceptions. As are foundational traits of authentic leaders, We was self-aware, value-driven, humble, willing to evaluate new information gained through experiences, and willing to engage in personal development that leads to change.
Final Thoughts
Today’s leaders can learn a lot from the parable of We and They. Too often organizations fall into the trap of playing the blame game or deflecting their responsibility for finding answers to others, who are referred to as “they.” In the end, “they” does not really exist. We are they and they are we. We must be willing to take the responsibility upon ourselves to climb our own mountain, intentionally view our circumstances from a broader perspective, stop trying to pin the blame on other people or circumstances, and spend our resources of time and energy on leading the way to finding the answers our people need us to find. As legendary Peter Drucker taught many years ago, leaders must be all about lifting up others’ vision to higher sights and raising them to higher standards of performance, even beyond normal limitations. When We returned from climbing the mountain as an authentic leader, he stopped blaming They as a result of changing his perspective. He found the solutions he needed, and it can be assumed that as the seasons of abundance once again turn, as most inevitably will do, to seasons of lean and want, his village will be prepared and well taken care of.