Here’s what no one tells you when you take up a leadership role: being good at your job and being a good leader are two completely different skills.
“I kept hearing about authentic leadership all through these years,” recalls Linda. “But honestly, I thought it was just another trending word. I figured if I worked hard enough and hit my numbers, everything would fall into place.”
Linda was recently promoted to Vice President at a mid-sized tech company. She brought with her super-star credentials: an MBA, twelve plus years of experience, and a track record of achieving the toughest targets. But to everyone’s surprise, her team’s morale was tanking. People were quitting, and projects were stalling. She’d been working almost 60-plus hours a week and still ended up with poor results.
When Linda reached out to Crosworks, she shared something that requires a lot of courage: “I’ve failed miserably. And I don’t think there’s a way forward.” We got to the bottom of this and helped her identify the real problem. We learned what Linda was doing wrong. She was managing tasks, not leading people. But with the help of our leadership coaching sessions, she began to see remarkable improvements. Within four months, her team’s engagement scores jumped by 40%, and turnover numbers dropped to zero.
Feeling pressured as a leader but not sure how to get the right help? Scheduling a call to discuss your concerns and learning more about Crosworks’ Leadership Coaching program is a good starting point.
What Makes a Leader Authentic?
Authentic leadership is about being real, being human, and building genuine connections with the people you lead.
An authentic leader is one who everyone gravitates toward during a crisis. The one who helps them troubleshoot through tough issues. The one who genuinely understands and empathizes. And the one whom the team trusts with the truth because they’ve built a powerful working relationship based on mutual respect and credibility.
Want to learn more about being an authentic leader? Here are three qualities that set genuine leaders apart.
Integrity
The word integrity gets tossed around a lot in our leadership conversations. But what does it actually mean? And how do we apply this to our work? To put it simply, consider integrity a combination of honesty, ethics, and consistency. Let’s look at this example to understand it better.
Your manager calls a team meeting about the upcoming budget cuts. Random rumors are circulating in the office, but he keeps it clear and honest. “Look, guys, I don’t have all the details yet. And I honestly don’t know if this will affect us. But the moment I know something – good or bad, you’ll know it too.” No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just the honest truth.
Another important aspect that we often miss is that integrity is part of the smallest things that surround us every day. If you say you’ll have the report done by Friday, then Friday it should be. When you say you’ll get back on a query, make sure you revert even if you don’t have the complete information in hand. In doing so, you’re building credibility, respect, and trust as a leader.
Empathy
Empathy isn’t just about being nice or having good listening skills. It’s about genuinely connecting with what your team members are experiencing by making the effort to understand and feel it alongside them.
Let’s say one of your team members approaches you, saying that she’s feeling burned out. How do you respond to this? As an empathetic leader, you’ll acknowledge the discomfort and validate her feelings. Here’s what you might want to say: “That sounds really tough. Tell me more about what’s going on and how I can help.”
Empathy also means recognizing that everyone on your team has their own set of challenges, both at work and at home. Keep a close check. Perhaps, a team member who seems disengaged might be caring for a sick child or parent. Or, the one who missed a recent deadline could be struggling with health concerns or anxiety. As a leader who cares, you’ll go the extra mile – probe, talk, and provide assurance.
Transparency
Want to know the fastest way to destroy your team’s morale and lose their trust? Keep secrets.
We understand that you have ethical responsibilities and can’t possibly share every bit of information. But transparent leaders understand the difference between true confidentiality and unnecessary gatekeeping. Transparency means sharing information that helps your team do their jobs better. It lets them understand the silent issues and makes them feel like valued members of the organization.
When leaders are transparent about challenges, uncertainties, and even their own mistakes, they create psychological safety and help build a culture of acceptance and belonging. As a result, team members become more comfortable taking risks, admitting their mistakes, and bringing up issues well in advance to avoid any possible operational disasters.
As one of our leadership coaching clients at Crosworks put it, “Once I started being transparent about what I didn’t know, my team started coming up with solutions I would’ve never thought of. While I was busy pretending to know it all (and secretly panicking), I was actually losing time and missing out on some brilliant solutions.”
Bringing It All Together
The journey to becoming an authentic leader is long but rewarding. If you’re a leader and looking to improve, hold on to these three qualities: Integrity, Empathy, and Transparency. Remember, the best leaders are those who are constantly learning, growing, and staying authentic.
If you’re feeling stuck in your leadership role or wondering how to take your skills to the next level, we’d love to talk to you. At Crosworks, we specialize in helping leaders like you develop authentic qualities that drive real results.
Schedule your free consultation call today. We’ll talk about any challenges you’re facing, explore what authentic leadership looks like in your role, discuss the benefits of Leadership Coaching, and explain how this can help you with your professional journey ahead.