Can someone be a good leader today without being authentic? While it’s possible to be “a” leader without being authentic, it’s virtually impossible to be a great, or even a good, leader. Let's expand a little.

True leadership begins with knowing who you are and what you believe. Additionally, authenticity is your ability to be yourself no matter what the situation is. Authenticity is more than just emotional intelligence or mindfulness. It lies in your ability to share the truest part of who you are with your team and your organization.

It’s funny that in business school, students spend an inordinate amount of time identifying and studying successful leaders, writing long papers on how to be just like them and pack our textbooks with tips on how Jack Welch did this or Lee Iacocca did that. By the time you graduate, you can do an oral dissertation on the differences—pros and cons—of Steve Jobs’ management style versus Bill Gates.

Authenticity matters

While it is instructive to observe and learn from others such as the four people above, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Successful leaders understand that the path of leadership is a journey of discovery about themselves. You are not a textbook to read once and put away on a shelf. You need to work continually to grow and change with the times to maintain success.

This is where being self-aware is key to being authentic. It brings our actions and our values into sharp focus. If we are self-aware, we can begin to understand how well our actions align with our beliefs, values, strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, it will help us bring our vision to our organization and gain buy-in from everyone.

Stay consistent in order to be authentic

Being authentic means that you don’t switch from one belief system to another because of a fad, pressure from others, or circumstances. Regardless of the situation, people respond to individuals who acknowledge the complexity of life and life’s decisions. When leaders try to be somebody they are not, the jig is up. Eventually, employees see through it.

The journey toward authenticity is twofold. First, discovering your personal values and beliefs, and, second, exhibiting behavior that is consistent with those same values and beliefs. You can be an authentic leader if you commit to being true to yourself—regardless of the situation you are in or the people around you—so you can be real and genuine.

How do you develop authenticity?

Let’s look at five ways you can become more authentic:

1. Determine your strengths:

• Look inside of yourself and identify your strongest beliefs and skills
• Reinforce them with practice and learning
• Carve out a role that draws upon your strengths every day
• Recognize that your greatest room for growth is in the areas of your greatest strengths

2. Work on your weaknesses:

• Honestly identify your weaknesses
• Do not ignore them
• Recognize that you cannot be talented in all areas
• Find ways to manage your weaknesses so you can free up your time to hone your strengths

3. Identify your personal values:

• Rank the following values in order of importance to you: integrity, patience, honesty, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, compassion, perseverance, spirituality, joy, and discipline. Remember that there is no right or wrong ranking, there is only yours.
• Expand the list by adding other personal values that are important to you 
• Explain the importance of each value to your life    

4. Develop a strong connection between your values and your behavior:

• Commit yourself to your personal values  
• Stay the course regardless of obstacles  
• Do not go around them—instead, overcome them  

5. Build diverse relationships:

• Create genuine relationships by being authentic  
• Authenticity builds trust and makes us more compelling and attractive leaders  
• Be prepared for the adversaries that will be created because you’ve remained true to your values and beliefs  
• Remember that leadership is not about being popular  

Authenticity is what every leader should strive for every day. However, remember that being authentic does not mean you lose your professionalism. Always maintain a professional approach while bringing your own personality to the table and you will have what it takes to become an amazing leader.