How authentic are you at work? Are you showing up as your true self? Do you let your team get to know the real you? Or do you wear a mask?
🖥️ Last week, I had the pleasure of co-hosting my first LinkedIn Live event with Leadership Development Coach, Princess Otigbu. After I outlined how to build confidence by reducing negative self-talk and learning to fail fast, Princess focused on authentic leadership. Authentic leadership isn’t just about leading others. It’s about leading yourself with integrity and confidence.
During our discussion, Princess gave us four essential steps to boosting your authenticity: self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and internalized moral perspective 💡
🪞 Self-awareness
Know your strengths, weaknesses, values, and triggers. When you know yourself deeply, you can lead from a place of confidence and clarity. Take time to reflect on your experiences and emotions and ask for feedback from others. This honest self-assessment allows you to align your actions with your core values, creating a more authentic presence in your leadership.
Tip: start a daily journaling practice to reflect on your thoughts and behaviors. This will help you gain deeper insights into your motivations and actions.
📖 Relational transparency
Being open and honest with others builds trust and fosters authentic relationships. Relational transparency means sharing your true self with your team—your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. It’s about being vulnerable enough to admit mistakes and transparent enough to share your learning journey. When your team sees your authenticity, they are more likely to trust you and follow your lead.
Tip: practice open communication by sharing your experiences and challenges in team meetings. Encourage others to do the same to create a culture of transparency.
⚖️ Balanced processing
Balanced processing involves considering multiple perspectives before making decisions. It’s about being open to feedback and willing to challenge your own viewpoints. This approach not only enhances decision-making but also demonstrates humility and authenticity. By valuing diverse perspectives, you show that you’re committed to making informed and fair decisions.
Tip: when faced with a decision, seek input from your team and weigh the pros and cons objectively. This will help you make balanced and authentic choices.
🧭 Internalized moral perspective
Your internalized moral perspective reflects your commitment to doing what’s right, even when it’s difficult. This step requires you to stay true to your values and principles, which builds credibility and confidence in your leadership.
Tip: regularly revisit your core values and ensure that your decisions align with them. This will reinforce your authenticity and moral integrity.
⏩ Embrace failure to build confidence
Our LinkedIn Live event wasn’t perfect, but it was a valuable learning experience. By embracing failure and viewing it as a stepping stone to improvement, you can build confidence in your leadership. The power of failing fast lies in its ability to push you out of your comfort zone, encouraging growth and innovation.
Authentic leadership is a journey. By practicing self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and an internalized moral perspective, you can lead with confidence and authenticity. And don’t be afraid to fail—it’s all part of the process of becoming a more confident leader ❤️
Let’s continue to bridge the gap together. What steps will you take this week to lead more authentically?
🚀 Looking for new tools to advance in your tech career? My group coaching program starts on September 23. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of something bigger—something that can truly transform your life and career. Join me, and let’s build something amazing together.
“SAVE MY SEAT” for my 🍂 Autumn Confidence Bootcamp by emailing: coaching@annagradie.com
Lots of love,
-Anna
