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As a manager, it's important to remember that you are not just a leader of a team, but a leader of individuals. Each person on your team has their own unique personality, strengths, and weaknesses, and it's your job as a manager to not only recognize but also utilize these qualities to drive the success of your business. This is key to a well-working business operating system.
Authentic leadership is a management style that emphasizes being true to one's self and leading in a way that reflects their individual values and beliefs. This type of leadership is not just about being yourself, but also about creating an environment where your team feels comfortable being themselves and bringing their own unique qualities to the table.
Why strive towards authenticity in your management style?
In the Gallup 2024 State of the Workplace survey, it was found that managers directly impact 70% of the variance in engagement among employees. Basically, your leadership really matters in terms of employee engagement and retention. Replacing an employee is costly — both to your bottom line and your organization’s stability.
Building a work environment that starts with authentic leadership is shown to improve employee engagement. The Gallup report shows that the best organizations integrate employee engagement into their business strategy and work culture.
Authentic leadership is the best way (in our humble opinion) to improve your relationships with your employees and reap the benefits of an engaged, high-performing team.
Creating a positive work culture
One of the biggest benefits of having an authentic leadership style is that it fosters a positive work culture. When team members feel like they can be their true selves, they are more likely to be engaged and invested in their work. This leads to higher levels of creativity and productivity, as well as a more cohesive team dynamic.
Trust-building with your team
Authentic leadership also helps to build trust between you and your team. When you lead by example and show your team that you are willing to be transparent and open about your own beliefs and values, they are more likely to trust you and feel comfortable sharing their own thoughts and opinions. This, in turn, can lead to more effective collaboration and problem-solving.
Knowing your team better
Another benefit of having an authentic leadership style is that it can help you to better understand your team and their needs. When you get to know your team members on a personal level and understand what drives them, you are better equipped to make decisions that will support their growth and development. This, in turn, can help to retain top talent and ensure that your team continues to perform at a high level.
How to build trust in the workplace as a more authentic leader
If you haven’t given much deliberate thought to being an authentic leader at work, it may seem a little out of sync with traditional leadership styles in management. We’ve all seen or heard of leaders who present themselves as somewhat unknowable and de-personalized paragons of corporate virtue… or ‘leaders’ who use fear as a management tactic. You might also be familiar with the stories of leaders who overshare and act inappropriately with their employees in an attempt to achieve ‘radical candor.’
Being authentic has nothing to do with being the TMI person at work, or being the biggest bully. You can channel authenticity and improve your relationship with your employees by focusing on a few key attributes.
Know Yourself
To present your best authentic self at work, you need to first be honest with yourself about… yourself. What are the factors in your personality and life outside of work that impact how you show up each day? Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. Play to your strengths, and work to overcome your weaknesses, and be honest with yourself and your employees when you don’t perform or behave as you wished you had.
Know Your Employees
Different employees will feel differently about how much of themselves they’re willing to share at work. One general rule: however much they share, show that you care. A big part of employee engagement is people feeling like they don’t have to hide who they are at work. As long as people aren’t teetering into HR violations, encourage them to be themselves. When you’re open about your strengths and weaknesses and how you’re working to constantly improve, your employees may be inspired to do the same.
Create a Feedback Loop
You should be giving your employees regular feedback, both in 1:1 meetings and quarterly performance reviews. Make sure you acknowledge and encourage strengths and accomplishments, and coach on how to improve weaknesses. But giving your employees feedback is only one part of the equation: make sure you’re getting regular — and more importantly, honest — feedback from them as well.
Make feedback a part of your organizational culture, and do whatever’s necessary to make sure you’re getting honest insights from your employees. It’s only when you know a problem exists that you’re able to fix it, and by soliciting regular feedback, you can hopefully suss out small problems before they snowball.
Get authentic for a better work environment
Letting your personality shine through your management style is not just about being yourself, but about creating a work environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. By embracing an authentic leadership style, you can foster a positive work culture, build trust with your team, better understand your team's needs, and develop a strong personal brand. So go ahead, let your personality shine and lead with authenticity!
