Authenticity & Leadership

Leaders, your employees are human beings, and it's time for you to lead with authenticity and inspiration.

I received a kind text message from a former co-worker I managed thanking me for taking him under his wing and being an authentic and inspirational leader. I appreciated the compliment, and it got me thinking about the importance of leading with authenticity and inspiration.

Authentic and inspirational leaders have a significant impact on the success of an organization or team.

Authenticity builds trust and credibility with followers. When leaders are genuine and transparent, team members are more likely to believe in and support their vision. Authenticity helps leaders stay true to their values leading to more consistent and effective decision-making.

Being inspirational is equally important to motivate and engage team members. Inspirational leaders communicate a clear and compelling vision that resonates and inspires people to take action. They create a sense of shared purpose among team members that improve collaboration and establishes a positive work culture.

Authentic and inspirational leaders build strong connections with their team members that drive everyone to achieve their goals. Being a positive influence on your team creates a better work environment, increases team engagement, and motivation, and delivers better results.

Don't waste your 1:1's reviewing a task list, spend time connecting on the human side so you can effectively coach them to success. To keep my teammates engaged as a leader, I find success using 1:1's to connect with my teammates. I ask them questions about their life, personal and professional goals, and give them space to chat about anything on their mind.

If you treat your team members as human beings you'll quickly learn the benefits of building that connection.