The Cornerstone of Authentic Leadership

Many years ago I worked with a client who was thinking of starting up her own business. She had many talents, and interests with lots to offer. Part of the process of finding out what she wanted to do was to explore her current employment. Her job seemed to be causing her much anxiety.
One of the biggest “thorns” in her workplace side was her boss. She knew she was really good at her job. Nevertheless, he overlooked her for promotion and opportunities. She observed that her boss was quite formal. He appeared to treat her differently to others. She told me of about a couple of occasions when others had got great work projects and raises. Despite her obvious skills, My client wasn’t considered.
The relationship between one particular colleague and the boss made her completely see red. Her boss had a particularly great working relationship with the other female colleague. Even the little things like her boss saying “good morning” with gusto to this lady. Sharing a laugh and joking with her, made my client feel left out, isolated and unappreciated.
When I asked her to tell me what she thought of her boss she happily let loose on her frustration. She rattled away about his ability to be divisive, unfair, have favourites, unappreciative, and moody. I then asked her to put herself in her colleague’s shoes and to think about how she might describe him. The light, even at this early stage began to dawn. She started using words like friendly, likeable, amusing, appreciative, and many more being the opposite of her own view. I then asked her if she had ever considered that her colleague might have a more successful relationship with their boss because she saw him in a more positive light.
I set her a task for her to go into work and to simply view her boss through the eyes of her colleague. To self observe what happened. At the next session, she told me how amazed at the difference she found with him when her attitude towards him changed. Without even saying anything to him. She said he started off smiling at her, began stopping by to have a chat now and then. He even took her into his office to tell her what a remarkable job she was doing. The penny had dropped. She learned a valuable life lesson. Our attitudes are pivotal in forming relationships. Authentic leadership is born of such understanding.
Human relationships are one of the most fertile, challenging and rewarding areas for developing self-awareness. Relationships are the best training ground for authentic leadership. Being aware of and actively improving relationships both inside and external to the workplace is the cornerstone of great leadership development. and authentic leadership. Relationships must be appreciated for the learning opportunities they hold.
The problem is we look at relationships through the wrong lens mostly. We use relationships to gauge our own or others self-worth, or we use them as if there is a hierarchy of good and bad people (I can hear the outcry now), we use them to suffer rather than celebrate. In the workplace, the extent of our discussions about relationships is limited to those about contractual terms and conditions. These simply ignore one of the fundamental musts for authentic leadership, personal relationships, and I don’t mean romantic ones! If only we could just grasp the fact that relationships are learning opportunities which increase the opportunity for authentic leadership, then we would create a much better world and lay the way for much more effective and caring authentic leadership.
For me, some of the authentic leadership lessons, human relationships hold are:
Authentic leadership can flourish when it is known that
Relationships are one of the cornerstones of authentic leadership, badging these as “soft skills” simply isn’t tenable any longer. They are HARD, emotionally charged lessons to learn, but if we have the courage to get into that particular class, and truly learn those skills then the rewards will be huge.
I help leaders develop self- mastery, helping them to become confident in their own inner guidance.
I collaborate with leadership experts, managers and HR professionals to help them get their own message and unique services and products to a wide audience.
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Another good book is “The Million Point Leader.” Its an easy read with some very powerful concepts.
Nice thought provoking article and I agree that whilst relating with others our attitude cannot not have an influence on the quality of the relationship. People know without knowing how they know whether or not we like them. Thanks for reminding us and the share.
Alan Jones
Cafe Style Speed Training
Thanks for your positive feedback Alan. I have to remind myself quite often about my own attitude! I hope this finds you well, on this murky Tuesday morning!
“People of different abilities and skills will come and go in the workplace equal to the growth of the organisation. Appreciating that there should be healthy relationships for past, present and future employees are essential.” This speaks to me. Especially since it puts it to the organization as well as highlighting the employees as a set of abilities and skills that we, as the other employee-abilities and skills-are similarly valued. Good relationships ARE important in corporate culture as well as our day-to-day lives. We should be on the look out for that fire on that bridge and the closest place to find some water.
Hi Kerri
Thanks so much for your insight and comments. Relationships are an equal responsibility for the Organisation and the Employee. I hope you’re having a great week!
Christina, What a great post! I love the example of your client and how easy it was to transform a situaiton simply by being aware of what spirit she was bringing to their engagements. I’m sharing with this quote from your post, “People feel what you are thinking about them, even if they aren’t consciously aware.”
Chery, thanks for the positive feedback, and I’m glad you liked the example. Part of the success of that particular strategy was the willingness of the client to embrace that they might indeed have played a part in their bosses attitude to them. Getting people to accept that is the difficult part! Thanks again for commenting. Much appreciated.
Nicely written piece Christina and absolutely spot on with regards the importance of interpersonal relationships to leadership. I have developed more effective ‘active’ listening through coaching and the impact has been amazing. I also got a great deal from : 6 Habits of Remarkably Likable People http://bit.ly/1gzeyAJ which you have probably already seen. Cheers Mark ([email protected])