Something has been rattling around my head for the past few days. Probably as a result of being immersed in my own Doctoral work related to my thoughts. What is true leadership?. For me true leadership isn’t about the title you hold, it’s about the personal power you wield through authenticity, empathy, and integrity. Authentic leaders understand that their role is not to dominate, but to elevate. They recognize that leadership is less about commanding and more about collaborating with their teams to achieve collective success.
Authentic leaders rely on personal power, the ability to influence and inspire over solely relying on the authority that comes with their position. They don’t lead with a heavy hand, instead, they guide with wisdom, understanding that mistakes are not failures but investments in learning and growth.
To be an authentic leader, one must first defeat the ego. It’s about putting the organisation’s mission above personal gratification. It’s about working for the greater good, knowing that when the team succeeds, everyone succeeds. These kind of leaders are not afraid to keep learning, to constantly build their own skillset so they can better support their teams. They then encourage their teams to do the same, to challenge themselves, to grow, and to develop.
We’ve all seen what happens when narcissistic egos go unchecked. Such leaders may win in the short term, but they ultimately destroy the organisation from within. Their need for personal validation eclipses the needs of the team and the organisation, leading to a toxic culture where growth and innovation are stifled.
For my own thoughts I would appreciate your views? What’s been your experience with authentic vs. ego-driven leadership? How do you ensure you’re leading with personal power? Let’s start a conversation in the comments below! I’m really interested to here what my LinkedIn connections views are.
