Of all the principles supporting sustainable leadership, authenticity is one of the most important. It can also be one of the most challenging.
Authenticity is the continuous process of building self-awareness of our whole person as well as being transparent with others about our whole person—both strengths and limitations. Commonly referred to as “walking the talk,” authenticity also means embodying your talk at a very deep level.
Authenticity is so much more than simply being true to ourselves; it also requires being true to others. Another prominent feature of highly authentic individuals is openness. The most real, genuine, and sincere leaders tend to have the courage to be open about both their capabilities and their vulnerabilities.
This more complete self-awareness allows them to focus on the team, organization, and marketplaces —not on themselves.
