3 Ways to Corner the Market on Authentic Leadership
At Nova, we work with talented leaders: men and women. What we know to be true, however, is that men and women are wired differently. Our brains fire differently, and we’re absolutely socialized differently. And difference is what contributes to creativity and - typically - better outcomes.
We know that differences are important because they help us get in touch with something authentic, unique, inspiring and true about our passions and purpose. In honor of this worthwhile pursuit, we want to touch on three qualities we’ve seen skilled leaders demonstrate, and how they impact authentic leadership.
Some of these traits seem to come more naturally for women. Nature? Nurture? We’re not sure. What we know is that the skills that make us more relational and able to connect with people more easily are foundational for authentic leadership. Read on for more insight, and tips to foster authenticity.
1: Authentic Leaders Communicate With Others in Mind
The first way to demonstrate authentic leadership is through communication. Too often, leaders are focused on their own agendas, or making sure that their voice is the dominant one in the room. Authentic leaders, on the other hand, think about others first: how will this message land for the audience? What’s important to them? What’s happening outside (in the company or in the world!) that may be impacting their ability to listen, participate and be present?
If you want more insight on how to be a more effective communicator, check out this podcast episode from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this interview, Sarah Stein Greenberg who is the Executive Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University outlines the concept of “widening your lens”:
“Widening your lens is one of those core ideas in human-centered design in that you’re…not designing for yourself. And you kind of have to get out of your own way to effectively design with others’ needs in mind. And so that idea of shifting your perspective, of widening your aperture or your lens is just critically important.”
So next time you’re planning a presentation, or even a one on one conversation, consider widening the lens to incorporate another point of view - another perspective.
2: Authentic Leaders Value Relationships
And that segues into our second point. Thinking with others in mind and building relationships is key to leading with authenticity. We’ve talked before about the importance of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence and empathy both lend themselves towards genuine relationship building. And genuine relationships are at the core of authenticity.
In her book, The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships, author Susan McPherson coins a phrase we love and have adopted: JOMO. No - not the Joy of Missing Out, but the Joy of Meeting Others! Yes, it can be more challenging in our increasingly virtual work world, but creating meaningful connections matters. We believe now more than ever.
Unfortunately, we also know that many times women in leadership positions don’t take the time to foster strong relationships with peers who can support them, or challenge them as needed. This is something we focus on in our Nova destination retreats because we know how much peer relationships matter. If you’re looking to develop your inner circle, we have just a few places remaining in Florence, Italy this October!
3: Authentic Leaders Practice Self Development
And that brings us to our third point: the importance of ongoing development. Leaders who focus on self-development get better at the social, emotional, and practical skills they need to accomplish their goals. Self-awareness and self-development makes it easier, and we have more success. Sounds like a winning combination.
We practice self-development regularly - and in many forms. Our self-development and self-care includes voracious reading, pilates, yoga and meditation. Daily walks. Conscious networking. Being a part of Mastermind co-horts. Frequent classes and workshops. All of these are not “nice to do” - they’re essential to maintain and support us in what we need to accomplish. Our self-development ensures we operate with more ease and success.
Take a look at your life and career: identify the areas where could you use some increased awareness or skill building. Then - chart your path!
Nova Executive Coaching
When you’re the leader, who’s there to help you balance the personal and professional complexity that is life?
That’s where Nova comes in.
Our goal? To help our clients live their lives and lead with intention – and to show that values, purpose and integrity can coexist with the business world: we just have to help people find a way to integrate. Reach out today to learn more about how we can support your development.
