Charismatic Leadership summary

The first trait we’ll be covering is authenticity.

Authenticity is the building block for everything in an organization. Without authenticity, you can’t have trust. And once you have the trust of your employees, the sky’s the limit. You can innovate faster, receive much less pushback on crucial decisions, and customers, suppliers, and partners feel more comfortable working with you. That’s because they trust that you have their best interests at heart. But lose that trust and everything suddenly gets harder.

So how do you make sure to bring your most authentic self to the workplace to start earning people’s trust?

This starts, with first knowing yourself well – your strengths, your weaknesses, how you’re seen by others, everything. The main problem in most businesses is that a majority of managers and bosses think they’re already honest and genuine. No one believes themselves to be untrustworthy. It’s a trait we always assign to others.

But when employees were asked whether they thought their bosses were aware of their own weaknesses, only about a quarter of them agreed. What bosses often don’t realize is that employees are watching their every move. When you’re a leader of a team, any inconsistent behaviors, hypocritical actions, and just general lack of self-awareness come across to your colleagues as untrustworthy, and therefore, inauthentic. That’s why it’s vital to gain an understanding of how you, as an individual, impact those around you.

Here are three methods to work on your authenticity:

First, make sure to stay honest with yourself and your colleagues. A great way to do this is to remember to stay humble and admit your mistakes when you see them. Taking responsibility and owning up to your flaws allows others to trust that you're self-aware and understanding. Even in a total disaster, your employees’ respect for you will skyrocket if you admit to your mistakes. On the other hand, if you’re dismissive or arrogant when you’re wrong, that only builds up distrust in your future decisions.

Second, know what your personal mission is. When you have a clear idea of your personal goals and mission, your coworkers know exactly where you stand on issues. And don’t be shy about this – to embody your most authentic self, you need to be visibly committed to the things you believe in. Not only does this give them a clear idea of your values, but it also empowers those around you to make their own decisions and judgment calls confidently when you're not around. If they know what you stand for, they can be more autonomous.

Third, always aim to be present and transparent. Being completely straightforward about your decisions, concerns, and goals makes it easier for those around you to feel you’re being transparent. If your words and your actions aren’t aligned, your employees won’t be sure what to believe. You need to be easy to read and act on what you say. And this doesn’t go away when things get rough, either. Far too many managers hide behind closed doors after implementing difficult decisions. Instead, own the decisions you’ve made, and stay visible. Show up for the difficult discussions, and keep your level of engagement high.

So remember – stay honest, have a personal mission, and strive to be present and transparent.