e-tip 88 – leadership and being yourself

There have been many books produced on leadership and suggesting that if you display those behaviours then you too would be a great leader – only they don’t quite work for many people.  This is for a number of reasons but the main one is: it’s not the real you.

Even actors can’t keep in character all the time, and they revert to type at the end of a show or scene.  Think about it – how long can you keep up a pretence?  Whilst feeling completely comfortable and natural about it?

I read a while back a research study on leadership and they came up with 3 qualities that leaders exhibited.  The first of which was:

• Being themselves

Successful leaders were comfortable and confident with who they were, and consistent in what they did and how they behaved.  What they said and did was the same. The research showed they all had different personal styles but that they were consistent in it’s application.  They walked the walk and talked the talk.

And this is probably why some leaders write about, for example, the 4 rules of…, or the 7 factors of…or the 11 commandments for Leaders (Gen. Schwartzkopf) which is the difference between what they think is going on, and what is really going on (the being themselves bit).

On another level, something like 25% of CV’s contain at least one lie which could someway explain why 18million people in the UK want to change jobs – that’s around 65% of the working population.  By not being themselves some people end up doing a job they don’t love or struggle to do!  Now why would you do that?

The second thing that the researchers came up with with is that great leaders all have great vision – they know what they want.  Which is also one of the ‘lucky’ principles.

And the third thing?  They all have coaches to bring out the best in them!

Today’s experiment

• Just be yourself today, knowing that you can always go back to your other self (if you have one) tomorrow if the new authentic self doesn’t work.  No acting, or being someone else.  Just your 100% authoentic self.  And notice how it feels and what’s different. Do you feel more or less relaxed?  Do you sleep better?

Until next time

Anthony

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