Here is a take on authentic leadership based on Bill George’s theoretical approach:

Authentic leadership refers to a leader that is genuine and aware of oneself. Often these leaders are seen as trustworthy and passionate in their values and have a core compass of right and wrong. Authentic leaders are morally developed persons with a vision of doing right and have self-discipline in their purpose. It is said authentic leaders lead with their heart and often establish well-connected relationships to help motivate their vision. In this day, we look for more authentic leaders as we value more trustworthy leaders to guide us with all the distrust around us. Authentic leaders give the hope and passion to follow in doing the right things. Looking at three leaders this essay will demonstrate the different ways an authentic leader can be defined and how the different approaches can help define authentic leadership in each one.

Practical Approach

First, we should look at two approaches to defining authentic leaders which is the practical approach mainly supported by Bill George and the theoretical approach. Bill George’s practical approach serves to see the characteristics of the leaders and how it influences them to lead. As Northouse (2016) mentions the practical approach is based on 5 characteristics which are understanding their purpose, having values and doing the right thing, connectedness with others, having self-discipline to defend their values and being passionate about their purpose. Leaders truly care about their work and those around them and provide a purpose for the followers based on their values. Northouse (2016) states the George called it their “True North” in that they were fully self-aware of who they were, where they were going and choosing to do the right thing along their path.

Theoretical Approach

In theoretical approach, there are four factors that are based in an authentic leader which are self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing and relational transparency. It is suggested that a person can develop authentic leadership when they have positive psychological capacities and moral reasoning and that it usually come from a critical life event sets this into motion towards leadership founded on the four elements. People who have positive psychological capacities are said to have the trait like characteristics of confidence, hope, optimism and resilience. It is also stated that authentic leadership may be developed when a person possesses’ positive psychological capacities with moral reasoning.

Examples of Authentic Leaders

Three examples of authentic leader are portrayed in cases in Northouse’s book that represent different styles of authentic leadership. The first one is Sally Helgesen, then Greg Mortenson and the third is Betty Ford. While all three demonstrate authentic leadership one stands at more than the rest in my opinion which would be Betty Ford. Betty Ford was never looking to be a leader but it all happened almost by accident when she became first lady. Betty Ford spoke up on issues that were controversy at best during her time as first lady. She never backed down from her values, purpose and heart and had the willingness to be put in public eye with opposing the norm views and also going public with issues not usually talked about to bring greater awareness. As mentioned in George’s approach Betty Ford had connectedness with people who now included the American women population which was not looked at as equally during her time. She stuck by her purpose and had compassion for other’s and was willing to show her vulnerability and admitted her weaknesses to help others.

While Sally Helgesen  and Greg Mortenson  also had some of these characteristics but not as focused in authenticity as Betty Ford had. For instance, Sally Helgesen while a very passionate leader seemed to change paths and mentioned she often felt like an outsider but through her self-awareness was able to develop her true self (Northouse, 2016). She followed through with her purpose but seemed to lack a little connectedness and at time maybe did not know her “True North”. This does make her any less of an authentic leader but actually suggests how one is developed into an authentic leader. Such as the theoretical approach mentions Sally Helgesen had moral reasoning and decent positive psychological capacity that helped her develop over time to grasp her dream and pursue it even when her confidence may have seemed dim at times.

Greg Mortenson brings a questioning point of view of authentic leadership as one wants to believe everything he said in how his vision began. After reading the 60 minutes’ transcript Here is the YouTube 60 Minute Interview Video one has to ask if in his purpose of opening schools if there was some self-interest motivation that would deter him from being a complete authentic leader. While his passion for building schools and educating women in less developed counters is a worthy cause filled with values and purpose the thought that some of critical life events were falsified makes it hard to see him as a “True North”. While his outcome was in the best interest of making other’s lives better by bringing awareness one would still have to question the controversy on possible fabricated stories. Authentic leaders are not afraid to show themselves in the whole, even if it means showing their weakness or having to show vulnerability to the most personal side. Such as Betty Ford did when admitting to her long battle with abuse and taking the steps to get help in front of a whole country.

In general, all three have characteristics that represent an authentic leader but it seems like Betty Ford had consistency on how she handled her purpose and how she chose to spread her values to others. Her followers could count on her complete honestly with all her battles and she made it easy for them to trust her because she did not hide her true self. She never put a façade on in front of people and felt truly her purpose was to give people hope that if she could stand behind her values and provide support for those around her she could make a real difference. She was a genuine person who trusted her moral compass to guide her so she in turn could help guide those around her. It takes a real honest person to let their wall down for everyone to see inside such things that most of us try to hide. I believe Greg Mortenson  definitely has things to hide and I feel like Sally Helgesen is in constant search of her true self.

Overall, they all bring the characteristics of authentic leaders displaying their purpose and values guided by their heart. They also show how an authentic leader can be developed over time by events that happen when supported by our moral reasoning and having positive psychological capacities of hope, confidence, optimism and resilience. As Northouse (2016) states those who are authentic lead with transparency, focus on doing the right thing for the greater good and work to develop their followers into better people. I believe authentic leadership is the route to all leadership and if leaders worked in developing their true self we all would benefit.

 

Reference

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 

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