5 Valuable Qualities of an Authentic Leader

November 10th, 2017 Tags: Dexter Montgomery, leadership, Pamela Montgomery
Posted in How to Build Your Authority Status

Become an Authentic Leader

5 Valuable Qualities of an Authentic Leader

As an entrepreneur you can develop and grow your community and your brand by demonstrating the five valuable qualities of an authentic leader. What is authentic leadership? According to Bill George, author of Authentic Leadership, it is built on the highest integrity, focused on results, and reflects your values and beliefs. Therefore, for long-term success, you want to be known and seen as an authentic leader in your both your off-line and on-line community.

Many people have written about leadership from Warren Bennis to Robert Greenleaf. My focus today is on authentic leadership. With authentic leadership you stand out from those who overpromise and under deliver. Your approach to your business is based on your values and integrity. In today’s world authentic leadership is welcomed and needed.  Use these five qualities of an authentic leader to develop and grow your community.

1. Authentic Leaders Make Connections

First of all, authentic leaders make connections. Part of this process involves getting out into the community and networking. Talk to peers and competitors.Find out what is important to them. You should go to conferences and symposiums. Talk to the experts.

Would you like to ask an expert a question? Then, develop a relationship with them. For example, follow them on social media. Interact with them on-line and off-line. Remember to be of value first before asking for assistance!

2. Authentic Leaders Focus on Results

Secondly, authentic leaders focuses on results. Weak leaders shame and blame. But an authentic leader zeros in on specific problems. She looks for solutions. Therefore, as an authentic leader you want to focus on achieving results that far exceed the standard solutions.

According to Kevin Kruse, “They are able to put the mission and the goals of the organization ahead of their own self-interest. They do the job in pursuit of results, not for their own power, money or ego.”

3. Authentic Leaders Act First

Authentic leaders also act first on ideas. They are first-class implementers. As an authentic leaders you find the best people for specific tasks while others are still discussing possibilities.

According to Michael Hyatt, “Leaders go first. They don’t sit on the sidelines. They don’t ask others to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. Instead, they lead by example. This is what distinguishes leaders from theoreticians and armchair quarterbacks.”

4. Authentic Leaders Know How to Ask for Help

An authentic leader knows how and when to admit you need help. An authentic leader does not pretend to be perfect. No one is.

5. Authentic Leaders Love to Learn

You will find that authentic leaders have an insatiable love for learning. They seek to improve every aspect of their lives. My personal library is full of books on personal development, history, and literature. I love to read, listen to podcasts, go to seminars, and attend workshops.

Authentic leaders find out how things work. They develop a community to help them handle situations. They also take time to do the difficult inner work that builds their self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Conclusion/Call to Action

Are you ready to develop and grow your community and brand by demonstrating the five valuable qualities of an authentic leader? Have you done the work and built the skills to be an authentic leader?

I encourage you to join me in this endeavor to develop and build your community and brand with your authentic leadership. Will you commit to using authentic leadership to make the world a better place?

Check out my latest report: Get Known and Be Seen! Learn how to stop being invisible and to gain authority status in your community by becoming an authentic leader.

Pamela Montgomery

I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, providing you resulted-oriented strategies to help you  achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!

Also published on Medium.