Authentic Leadership

By Corinne Mossman

As a leader, you have the power to create a significant impact on the people and world around you. It’s important to recognize that impact can be both positive and negative, but owning it is crucial to becoming a better leader. When you take ownership of your impact, you open yourself up to growth and learning. Acknowledging your mistakes and taking responsibility for them shows your team that you are not perfect, but you are willing to work towards being better. This vulnerability and honesty can build trust and respect with your team.

On the other hand, recognizing your positive impact can give you the confidence to continue leading with purpose and intention. When you see the positive results of your leadership, it can motivate you to push yourself further and inspire your team to do the same. We recently had a guest speaker at our regional relocation council, who challenged each person to share with their tablemates about a positive contribution they had, without thanking everyone involved, without minimizing the amount of time and effort that went in, without saying “we”, but really focusing on the positive individual contribution.….it proved way harder than it sounds!

Owning your impact as an authentic leader means taking responsibility for the influence you have on others and being genuine in your leadership approach. It involves being aware of your actions, decisions, and behaviors and understanding how they affect those around you. Here are some key aspects of owning your impact as an authentic leader:

• Self-awareness: Remember, intent is not the same as impact. Developing self-awareness is crucial for understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs. It allows you to identify how your actions and words impact others without solely focusing on your intent.
• Integrity and transparency: Authentic leaders act with integrity and are transparent in their dealings. They are honest, ethical, and consistent in their actions, which helps build trust with their team members.
• Empathy and active listening: Authentic leaders show empathy and actively listen to others. They seek to understand the perspectives and emotions of their team members and respond with compassion.
• Purpose-driven leadership: Owning your impact involves leading with a clear sense of purpose. Authentic leaders align their actions with a higher purpose that goes beyond personal gain.
• Building relationships and fostering collaboration: Owning your impact involves building strong relationships with your team members and fostering a collaborative work environment. Authentic leaders value diversity of thought and encourage open communication and empowerment.
• Continuous growth and development: Authentic leaders understand that growth is a lifelong journey. They embrace opportunities for self-improvement and actively seek feedback from others.

So, whether your impact is positive or negative, own it. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow, and use it as a catalyst for becoming a better leader. Owning your impact means taking responsibility for your actions, acknowledging the consequences they may have, and striving to do better in the future. It means being willing to learn from mistakes and making a conscious effort to create positive change, and then stopping to appreciate the positive change. Remember that leadership is not about being perfect, but about showing up authentically, taking ownership of your impact, and inspiring others to do the same.