Authentic Leadership
Did you know that people prefer what is real over what is fake?
In a 2023 study, researchers found that while people struggle to identify the difference between art made by humans and art generated through artificial intelligence, people still prefer human art and experience more positive emotions in response to human artwork.
This research shows an innate trust and positive feeling toward what is real.
As social media has become more popular, people have started having a greater preference for what they see as real. Throughout your feed, you can find immaculate houses and perfect families dressed in matching outfits. But more and more, people are starting to show the mess behind the camera or the reality of homes that show their age.
Instead of looking for perfection, people are looking for what is real.
Authenticity is what allows us to connect and empathize with what other people are going through. So why do people struggle to be authentic?
Authenticity has often been confused as a sign of weakness. Some argue that people want to follow those who show strength in the face of adversity and always know the right answer.
But Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he [Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
When we show people the areas we struggle with, we allow them also to see how God works in us and produces testimonies through us. This is what makes our lives as Christians different from others! We have the power of God to help us overcome any situation. Our struggles are not something we share to express defeat but to testify of his goodness.
Paul’s approach to being authentic shows us that it is possible to be an impactful leader without pretending that we have it all together.
When Paul spoke of his weakness, he was not speaking as someone who was defeated but as someone who had hope! He continued to lead the church in Corinth and provide them guidance regardless of his challenges. By sharing his struggles, he produced more hope and faith in the people he led.
You can also be authentic by doing these three things:
1. Share both your successes and your failures.
If you’re a leader, people know you have had some success. But what they probably don’t know is how many times you failed on the way there. Being open about your journey and even the skills you are still learning can help you connect with others and show them that they can achieve the success they are looking for, too.
2. Admit when you don’t know the answers.
Leaders do not have all the answers! Pretending to know everything alienates leaders from their team and keeps them from having productive discussions and creating new ideas. The higher you get in leadership, whether in business or an organization where you volunteer, the more critical it is to seek information from people on the front lines. Ask great questions to allow your team to shine and help you improve your understanding of your work. This creates a collaborative environment and builds trust between you and your team.
3. Allow yourself to express emotions.
Emotions are not the enemy. Strong emotions often occur when you care deeply about something. When Mary cried at Jesus’s feet over the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus wept. It was an emotional moment, even though Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He wept because he cared deeply about Mary and Lazarus and what they were going through.
Even though He felt strong emotions, He did not allow them to change his mission. As a leader, you cannot allow your emotions to overcome you to the point where you are unable to communicate clearly or where they cause you to act out. But by sharing disappointment or even excitement, you can show your team that you are not a robot. You also respond to different business or client decisions and recognize their impact. Then, when you present the plan or share your next steps, people will feel more confident following you.
The more authentic you can be, the more connections you can make as a leader, parent, friend, coworker, or neighbor. Not only will it help you lead others, but it will also allow people to see the power of Christ working through you! When you are vulnerable and authentic about your struggles and how you process them, you show other people how God can work through their lives, too.