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July 25, 2011
Meaning: This last year, I spent a day with two classrooms of 5th graders in Montana. Before walking into the middle school, I wondered what these 11-year-olds would be like. The game show, “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” came to mind. But my experience with these kids was not a lesson about how smart they were. I was struck by the fact that none were hesitant to be themselves. If they were touched by something, boys or girls, they said it. Without filters or pretense, they were true to what they were experiencing. It was so delightful. Most 5th graders will tell you the unvarnished truth. It may not always be what you want to hear (“No, that tie doesn’t look good.”), but at least you’ll know it’s authentic! With almost daily news stories about duplicitous leaders, authentic leaders stand above the crowd. They speak the truth, even when difficult. They don’t operate on pretense; what you see is what you get. When asked what they most admired in their best bosses, people will often say, “I always knew where I stood.” That is authenticity in action.
Ideas for Action: Authenticity is sometimes wrongly perceived in business as a “soft” skill. However, authenticity can be even more important than financial acumen, considering its vital role in creating effective relationships with customers, shareholders and employees. Why, then, do many leaders struggle with being themselves?
The most delightful part of my 5th grade experience was how open these kids were – they had not yet learned all of the social rules or “politically correct” answers, which was okay. As adults, we somehow let rules dictate what we should say or do, but rules and fears can stifle openness. Fear of losing someone’s approval means we may hide what we really think or feel.
Former Medtronic CEO, Bill George, believes business leaders purposely tamp down their authenticity due to cultural norms. “Many leaders – men in particular – fear having their weaknesses and vulnerabilities exposed,” George writes, “So they create distance from employees and a sense of aloofness. Instead of being authentic, they are creating a persona for themselves.”
You can’t be authentic when you hide behind a persona. Your colleagues want to know about your reactions, thoughts and feelings. I recall working with a marketing leader who others said lacked sincerity. She was devastated by that feedback, but eventually learned it came down to how she constantly sought input about what others were thinking without ever revealing what she thought or felt. Her co-workers were always left wondering: what does she think and stand for?
The common phrase “walk the talk” is also about authenticity. People pay attention to whether or not you live the values you espouse. If you talk of how important leadership development is for your team, do you personally reveal what you are doing to develop yourself? Do you spend time actively coaching those who report to you? You can apply that kind of questioning to all of the values you hold dear. Does your behavior or do your choices reflect them?
Even better, write down what you value as a leader. What is important to you? What kind of organization are you trying to create? What do you stand for? What kind of leader are you trying to be? Now for the hard part - ask those around you what you do that lines up with those values and whether you are doing anything that counters them. It is a great way to learn how others perceive your authenticity.
It’s been said that authenticity is its own reward – a sentiment Shakespeare expressed 400+ years ago when he wrote, “To thine own self be true.” In your heart, you know what you value and believe. Let the rest of us know too! That’s authentic.
Best regards,
Sandra Davis, CEO