Learn to be authentic by getting mentored

“Authenticity is the degree to which a person's actions are congruent with their beliefs and desires, despite external pressures to conformity.”

In a business context, authenticity directly impacts performance and is believed to be the essential factor in achieving long-term success for an organization. Why is that?

What is authentic leadership?

According to Wikipedia, authentic leadership emphasizes building the leader's legitimacy through honest relationships with followers, which value their input and are built on an ethical foundation. Generally, authentic leaders are positive people with truthful self-concepts who promote openness.

What is the impact of authentic leadership on the workplace?

Authentic leaders form positive and empowering work environments by providing employees access to information, opportunities to learn and grow, adequate support, and resources.

Empowering work environments foster increased engagement and commitment to work, resulting in greater job satisfaction, higher productivity, and performance and higher-quality relationships.

It is authentic leadership at the root of effective leadership that builds healthier work environments.

People who can be their whole selves in the workplace become more engaged and less risk-averse. People who know who they are and what they believe in can use their physical, intellectual, and emotional energies in their work roles. They lose less time and energy amending themselves and can develop high-quality relationships with their collaborators.

Authentic employees have more job satisfaction, go the extra mile, have a stronger sense of community, and less stress.

If the company culture is aligned with the company values, workers are more ethical, leaders more confident, and customer relationships stronger. Authentic organizational culture is the breeding ground of originality and innovation, productivity, accountability, agility, and adaptability in the face of continuously changing circumstances.

Give people an insight into you as a person, including the roadblocks you have encountered on your career path. Sharing your experiences, vulnerabilities, and dreams with people builds empathy and allows them to relate to you in a way they can understand. Don’t be afraid of uncomfortable conversations and invite differing viewpoints.

Paraphrasing our Business Mentor Jan: “Being true to yourself brings out the best in you.”

Every day is another opportunity to use authenticity as a tool for growth.