Are you a good leader? It’s a question you’re bound to ask yourself frequently, if you’re at the head of your organization or in charge of teams. Indeed, a good manager in the 21st century has to face all kinds of challenges, in a context of transforming practices (teleworking, technological upheavals and constant innovation, artificial intelligence, etc.).
Faced with such a situation, it’s imperative to demonstrate flexibility,strategic agility and managerial authenticity to your employees. But how can you lead authentically? Are there specific principles or steps to follow? That’s what we’ll look at below.
What is a leader?
“The leader is the one who sets the course, while the manager is the one who sets the path” – Cécile Dejoux
We often tend to confuse management with leadership. In the first case, the manager supervises teams on behalf of his or her superior. He sets the framework, pursues the objectives set and plays the role of “conductor of collective performance”.
The leader ‘s role is quite different: he or she is the guide, the one with the vision. The leader gathers and mobilizes around him or her, so that all project stakeholders move in the same direction.
Being a leader does not correspond to any particular official function within the company. It is therefore impossible to “formalize” this skill, unlike the role of manager, which is clearly established. Nevertheless, the role of leader is a form of recognition, and is particularly appreciated in the corporate world.
Some managers can become natural leaders, embodying both types of authority at the same time. At the end of the day, a good leader is a manager who demonstrates leadership!
What are the natural skills of a leader?
A leader develops soft skills that enable him or her to rally individuals around a single objective. This is what we call the leader’s posture. This particular attitude is a matter of conscious choice (or self-awareness). It can be the subject of leadership training, so as to put power and authority at the service of the project, or towards the achievement of a common goal.
To become a leader or establish your authority with your teams, consider working on these five essential postures:
- Relational posture (empathy, assertiveness and listening).
- Emotional posture (accepting and controlling emotions, improving intuitive skills).
- The posture of trust (finding the right balance between ego and humility, knowing how to regulate teams by devising a clear charter that applies to everyone).
- Posture of authority (institutional, situational, personal and relational power).
- Crisis posture (turning stress into an ally, staying agile in turmoil and developing resilience).
What makes an authentic leader?
Authentic leadership is, by definition, a posture synonymous with honesty and transparency. It is an innovative approach to human capital management, which seeks to shake up traditional management models by placingpeople at the heart of organizational dynamics.
An authentic leader behaves in a way that is consistent with his or her own values, so as to build trusting relationships with subordinates. A manager who becomes an authentic leader also becomes an inspiring role model in the eyes of his teams.
What are the origins of the term?
The concept of Authentic Leadership was introduced by Bill George, in his book “Authentic Leadership”, published in 2003. In it, the former Medtronic CEO and management professor describes Authentic Leadership as “Leadership based on personal values and deep convictions, not on power, status or money”.
According to Bill George, authentic leaders are aware of their own values and attach particular importance to their belief system. They act consistently with these values, demonstrating openness and transparency in all communication protocols.
Is authentic leadership the ultimate goal?
Organizations need to be aware that there is no one leadership style that is objectively “better” than another. To achieve the desired result in terms of effectiveness, a number of variables need to be taken into account, such as: the context, the organizational culture, the needs of employees or the specific objectives targeted by the project.
So, authentic leadership is just one leadership style among many, even if this innovative management technique does have its followers. Other styles include servant leadership, situational leadership and paternalistic leadership.
Authentic leadership is ideal if, as a manager, you want to focus on relationships and create a positive work environment based on trust. In short, authentic leadership remains very popular, for its ability to inspire and motivate employees to achieve outstanding performance.
What are the techniques for cultivating authentic leadership?
Being an authentic leader means more than just knowing how to coach, guide and innovate. It also requires the ability to share, communicate and engage in transparent dialogue with one’s colleagues. What at first appears to be a weakness is actually an asset for the leader.
Hence the importance of cultivating a number of qualities specific to authentic leadership:
Getting to know each other
If you want to be a leader, you need to know who you are. What’s the point of talking to others if you don’t embody anything you preach? Hence the importance of answering a few simple questions: Who are you? What are your passions? What do you stand for? Practice this reflection regularly.
To create the right conditions for success, we strongly recommend that you map your talents and achievements, identifying your successes and failures – or those you perceive as such.
Cultivating feedback
The feedback culture aims to improve the performance of your employees. Thanks to this corporate culture, everyone is invited to give feedback on the actions taken by others (employees and managers alike).
In many large companies, employees are encouraged to express themselves freely and give their opinions. This is the case, for example, at Netflix, which regularly works on signs of belonging.
An authentic leader must not hesitate to ask for honest feedback, whether on himself or on his actions. This creates strong bonds and helps to motivate teams.
Developing empathy
Empathy is a relational quality that is essential for authentic managers. It stimulates relational intelligence, by enabling people to identify with others according to their feelings and emotions.
The empathetic leader detects risky situations, learns to interact more effectively with others and, ultimately, builds trusting relationships.
Acting as a role model
Being an authentic leader means aligning your words with your actions. As a leader, you must be able to align your thoughts, words, actions, values and intentions.
Authoritarian management was still in vogue in the 20th century, not only in industry but in a vast majority of sectors. This approach to management is now a thing of the past. To embody an inspiring model, the 21st-century manager must assume the role of principal communicator, and his or her voice must be heard both inside and outside the company.
What training program is needed to become an authentic leader?
Certain professionals within the company have a natural predisposition to embody the role of leader. But this is not necessarily the case for all potential candidates for this eminent position! If you want to become the kind of leader who fosters trust in his or her teams, the most effective solution is to undergo training with a coaching organization.
When should you recruit a leader for your company?
Recruiting a leader (internally or externally) is a well-founded decision. It must be based on a number of realistic observations, and must lead to the development and performance of your company. Otherwise, you run the risk of creating organizational and cultural imbalances.
Here are some of the situations in which you may need to recruit an authentic leader:
- You’re planning an organizational change: this can be a difficult time for employees. An authentic leader can accompany you through this crucial time in your company’s life, deploying open and honest communication, and supporting your employees throughout the transformation process.
- Your organization is going through a period of crisis: faced with such a situation, your employees are looking for people who can demonstrate honesty and transparency, and who can provide clear direction. The authentic leader has all these skills and qualities.
- You want to implement a collaborative and diverse work environment: if your current project requires the implementation of teamwork, the authentic leader is the ideal profile. This professional is excellent at building trusting relationships, and encouraging open communication between your team members.
Executive coaching: the solution for developing authentic leadership
Executive coaching is an ideal solution for enhancing the skills of leaders and influencers within your organization. It is a holistic approach to personal development, designed to support career development (or the assumption of a new position).
A qualified and certified coach focuses on developing your professional skills and potential as a manager, executive or leader. He will help you achieve your career goals, and give you the keys to effective leadership of teams and organizations.
Executive coach clients are generally highly motivated professionals. Their approach is mainly focused on the success of a project, or the desire to take their career to the next level.
And you: are you ready to take your business project to the next level? Let’s talk!
