Authenticity vs Authentic Leadership

It seems fitting, at the start of a new year, to review the year that has just left us and to look forward to the year ahead. I noticed, during 2008, a significant increase in the use of the words 'authentic' and 'authenticity'; from articles on holiday destinations that have remained unchanged by tourism and as such, have remained 'true to themselves', to making 'authentic' chocolate cakes like our domestic godess, Nigella Lawson!

I am often asked whether 'authenticity' and 'authentic leadership' are the same; whether being true to yourself and your own principles is enough to make someone a good, or even a great, Leader.

The simple answer is that no, being authentic on its own is nowhere near enough! There is an enormous divide between the two states of being. They may sound similar, but in reality, a huge chasm divides them.

Before I explore with you what each means for us in today's complex world, let me explain briefly where the two ideas came from. In terms of written historical records, both can be traced back at least to the ancient Greeks; although the underlying principles of both are evident in earlier Confucian and Buddist philosophies.

The similarities between Eastern and Western philosophical ideals over millennia regarding an individual's moral and ethical character whilst also remaining true to themselves suggests that socially and psychologically, the two concepts of authenticity and authentic leadership transcend cultural, temporal and geographical boundaries.

So what are they then, these two ideas that sound so similar but are actually worlds apart in terms of their implications for people's behaviour?

Historically, being 'authentic' means more than just being true to yourself in terms of living by a set of beliefs, values and standards that represent your own moral compass (or as Bill George puts it, your 'true North'). Being authentic means more than Shakespeare's, "To thine own self be true".

Shakespeare omitted a word! What he really meant to say was, "To thine own TRUE self be true".

You cannot possibly be true to your own TRUE self if you lack the understanding to really comprehend and acknowledge who your true self really is. Many of us spend a lifetime trying to understand who we are at our core and what that means for us as partners, parents, colleagues and neighbours.

Before you can BE authentic therefore, you must be self aware enough to really know what's important to you, both personally and professionally in all spheres of your life. And you must actively reflect on how life's daily challenges influence you; whether they serve to reinforce your sense of self, or whether they shake you to your core.

Authentic Leadership incorporates this dimension of personal authenticity, and adds to it the concept of personal integrity; our morals and ethics. Ethical decision making is at the very heart of the principles of Authentic Leadership. The Authentic Leader does what is right and moral and just for society and the wider community, whilst STILL displaying a consistency with their moral values that allows them to remain true to their own true sense of self.

Sometimes it isn't a very easy path to tread.

My argument therefore, is that although the narcisists and psychopaths who are so evident in the history of warfare and dictatorships may well have been authentic in that they were being true to their own true (violent) natures, in no way could they ever be considered Authentic Leaders.

Truly Authentic Leaders are psychologically self-aware and philosophically sound; ethical and moral people who are empathetic and compassionate to others. They not only know themselves very well, they encourage all of those around them to achieve their full potential.

The desire and search for such leaders pre-dates one of the first recorded examples of such a man; the Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, who, in his books of Meditations to himself, reflected on his leadership role as General of the Roman Legions and Master of the Roman Empire.

I hope that I have been able to explain the difference between the two terms of Authenticity and Authentic Leadership. The principles of Authentic Leadership underpin the 3 Peaks Leadership Development Programme (an exciting leadership development experience of which I am honoured to be Programme Director). To learn more about Authentic Leadership and what that might mean for you, please visit our Resources page or have a look at the 3 Peaks Leadership Development Programme.

Happy New Year to you.

My best wishes as always,

Fiona

Hello and Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog,

I guess that I should start by explaining why I've set it up and what you can expect to find here over future months and years.

The Cognitive Fitness Consultancy was established in 1996 to coincide with the launch of the psychometric tool Thinking Styles, as a way of helping people at work to understand themselves and others more effectively. As a psychologist, one of the things that I'm passionate about is trying to find ways of understanding relationships between people; why is it that we feel so comfortable with some colleagues, and yet others unleash in us all sorts of varied and complex emotions from mild irritation to active dislike?

My first book, Thinking Styles - Relationship Strategies that Work! was published in 1999 in an effort to explore how our thinking influences our behaviours and our relationships with others. Over the years I've received many letters from people telling me how this little book has helped them to understand not just their colleagues, but friends, family and life partners as well! I'm delighted to hear it, - that's just what it was written to do.

Of course, over the years, we have added other psychometric tools to the Cognitive Fitness stable; all of them designed to increase self-awareness and add value to the quality of people's working relationships and therefore to their lives. And if that sounds a little over-the-top then I can only apologise, - but I do mean it very sincerely as we really are an organisation driven by Purpose (which is why our new on-line Cognitive Fitness questionnaire and report are available to you via the website completely free of any charge).

One of the other things that I'm passionate about, apart from encouraging people to become more self-aware and achieve their potential, is personal and leadership Authenticity, and I will be writing much more about those subjects in future blogs.

If you don't want to wait, please feel free to have a look at our Resources page where you will find articles on Authentic Leadership and developing Cognitive Fitness, as well as information on how to avoid flabby thinking and on the psychology of teams.

My best wishes,

Fiona