You’re new to the world of business leadership, and you’re trying to learn as much as you can about how to effectively lead a strong and successful team. After you finish investigating REI BlackBook to research more about tools to help one of your real estate investor clients, you plan on mapping out just what it takes to be a great business leader. Your first step should be learning about the role authenticity plays in leadership. That’s why we’re offering you a list of 6 reasons authenticity is vital in business leadership.
Let’s get into it!
Builds Stronger Relationships
Authenticity is crucial when it comes to building strong and healthy relationships. As an authentic business leader, you are true to yourself and honest and open with your team. Instead of trying to put on a persona, you are transparent with your team. This openness makes your team feel confident that they are working with someone that they can trust and rely on to be true to their values and take a genuine interest in what’s best for their individual needs.
Better Decision Making
Business leaders who are authentic are much more likely to make better decisions. Authenticity encourages leaders to base their decisions on what they believe to be right rather than going off what’s popular or self-serving. In order to determine the best course of action, authentic leaders first invite the perspectives of others before making a decision that could impact the whole team. This results in outcomes that benefit the organization and team as a whole.
Fosters Self-Awareness
One of the biggest benefits of authenticity is that it fosters self-awareness. As a business leader, it’s paramount that you have a greater understanding of your emotions and thoughts. Instead of reacting without awareness, business leaders who are self-aware take a pause to analyze where their beliefs stem from. In doing so, it prevents them from acting on impulse or making rash decisions that could negatively impact the team and organization.
Establishes Trust
Perhaps the most important benefit of authentic leadership is that it establishes trust. Trust is incredibly important when it comes to being a leader in business. You want a team who believes in you as much as you believe in them. Without a foundation of trust, your team and organization can collapse. As an authentic business leader, you are viewed as someone your team can rely on. This trust motivates the team to work hard for an organization and a leader that they can count on.
Inspires Your Team
Authentic leaders are known for being inspirational to those around them. As a business leader, when you embrace authenticity, you show your team what you stand for and what matters the most to not just you – but the team and organization as a whole. This creates a ripple effect, and your team becomes more driven to help you accomplish the organization’s goals and aspirations.
Improves Communication
A hallmark trait of an effective leader is that they are impeccable with their communication skills. Fortunately, open communication is a byproduct of authenticity. When a leader is authentic, it provides individuals with a safe space to communicate with honesty and openness. This creates a work culture that is completely transparent and able to communicate more effectively, establishing a healthy environment for all.
