ON AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP

We hear words added to LEADERSHIP all the time.

 

Words like genuine, masterful, honest, and authentic. They all serve a purpose to describe the individual but when it comes to the act of leadership the only one that matters is AUTHENTIC.

 

When it comes to AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, every leader must be ready to move beyond being open and transparent. You have to work on establishing your legitimacy as an authentic leader by building true and honest relationships with followers that value your input.

 

While all followers will value your input because they would not be your followers if they didn't.

 

However, the level of support by your followers will vary. It varies because each follower is a unique individual with unique needs and wants. That is why building trust, growing enthusiasm and caring and encouraging others to do the same is key to being authentic in your role as a leader.

 

A few things to aid you in being an Authentic leader is to ramp up being mission driven and stay focused on the long term. The long term being look at the big picture and keeping that picture dynamic.

 

Anything less and your run the risk of letting mediocrity creep in and settle. Once mediocrity has settled in doing anything else to raise any level will be all but a moot point.

 

It will be as if you are having to start from scratch. Starting from the beginning is always discouraging especially, when the leader becomes a master of starting from scratch over and over again.

 

When a leader becomes a master of building and rebuilding it might be the time to change the leader. Change the leader? Yes, he or she has become complacent.

 

A complacent leader is never going to be a true practitioner of authentic leadership. Well of course, if the complacent leader decides it may be time to change location, altitude, and most definitely attitude he or she might stand a chance but time will tell.

Thank you,
David Guerra

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Here are some Tags: Tags: • The Walking Leader • Great To Follow • Leadership • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

On Being Open and Transparent

When it comes to being a leader in the 21st century, being open and transparent is now the only acceptable and expected norm. It is the standard. However, unfortunately so many people continue to push that standard to the side. They throw it off and that is not a good thing. Folks that is not how it's done, that is not how it is going to be, most importantly that is not how one remains a leader.

One remains a leader by not deviating from the standard you set for yourself and for others that you lead, manage or supervise. You expect others to adhere to those standards but once you start saying “oh well, that's their standards and these are my standards” well it does not work that way. You have to remain open and transparent the entire time you are a leader. You cannot deviate from the ONE standard because when it comes to being transparent; "you deliberately go out of your way to try to be honest and open about who you are. There is no façade, no pretense – with you. People get what they see. You speak in your own voice. You are authentic. Others can see clearly who you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it.”

It is that simple. You just cannot deviate from that, if you're expecting others to behave in a manner that you say but you are not doing, well all I can say is something is very wrong there. It is when you begin to hide things, like openness and transparency; the truth will eventually become clouded. Once clouded you will fall down that slippery slope where people will begin to doubt their trust in you and as a Leader, you do not want that.

Once that trust is in doubt, there is no going back. Sure, you might get 98 – 99% percent but you will never have a 100% of that trust back. Seriously, you will not see all that trust ever again. Think about it this way; for some reason or another, you doubt somebody's trust. After the situation is settled, will you or can you ever truly trust that individual again? No.

It is sad but it is true. That is why the importance of being open and transparent is key to a successful career and even more importantly it is key to maintaining the honor of being called a leader for a very long time.

Thanks for your time,
Dave

P.S. What do you think of what I wrote above? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me by email (dave@daveguerra.com) or on Twitter where my handle is @DaveGuerra

P.P.S. I would love to connect with your here:
http://www.twitter.com/daveguerra
http://www.facebook.com/thedavidguerra
http://www.instagram.com/dave_guerra

Thank you,
David Guerra

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Here are some Tags: Tags: • The Walking Leader • Great To Follow • Leadership • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

On Being Genuine

Now is the time to be more than who you are. Being more is as important as eating or breathing is to the human body.  Currently, you are who you are and the sooner you understand that you have to grow to be a better individual, the sooner you can grow beyond who you are. Grow beyond who you are?

Being genuine is the only way to grow beyond who you currently are.

To grow as an individual you can only do so as an individual. However, you must take certain precautions so as not to come across inauthentic or disingenuous.

While it may be a slippery slope do your best to not make it a competition. We are all taught that you have to be the best. You have to be number one. Excessive competitiveness does nothing but bring you down when you win and you resent those who do win. Be careful.

Let go of what other people say or expect. Just be yourself. You want to be genuine, the real deal then you cannot be when you are at the mercy of others. When others tell you you should do this or say that then you are nothing but a follower. Remember you are the only person that gets to say who you are. So be that person. While the “cool” kids are doing what the “cool” kids do when it is all said and done they are nothing but followers. Remember that.

Being genuine means, you are not following anyone but blazing your own trail. Then those that want to be with you will find a way to be near you and they will do so because you are genuine in your intents and actions. Trust the process and most of all trust yourself.

Do not force it. Forcing yourself to be genuine well that does come shining through o anyone and everyone. So do not force it.

All in all, just be yourself.

Thank you,
David Guerra

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Here are some Tags: Tags: • The Walking Leader • Great To Follow • Leadership • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Time To Be Clear And Concise

Happy New Year!

A New Calendar, A New Way of Thinking, and most certainly, A New Way of DOING!
Too many people, I mean way too many people for one reason of another refuse to be clear and concise in any communication they use. However, it all begins with the face-to-face conversation. For whatever reason, people have trouble communicating face to face. This then carries over to other forms of communication with voice-to-voice a very close second place.

This indirect activity creates a feeling that the speaker believes everyone within the sound of his voice can also read his mind and is 100% in tune with what he (or she) is trying to say. However, with this mindset, the speaker will fail 100% of the time.

When a speaker starts to hint at things and sends mixed messages the listeners become lost and unfocused. At that point, the speaker has lost his place and getting it back is a trick not even the greatest magicians could accomplish.

When the speaker hints at things or sends the mixed messages, they also fail to get to the point as quickly as possible. Again, failing to get to the point will result in not getting what you want or are asking for.

When the time comes and it is your turn to speak be careful to avoid being so vague that nobody will ever understand what you want or asking for. Failing to be clear and concise will lead you to fall short of your desired goal. So step up your game and start clearly and concisely vocalizing what you want or where you stand.

A word of warning is careful that you do not come across as abrupt, unfriendly, arrogant or rude. Just say what you feel and while it may be difficult at first you will find that right balance. That is why you must work every day, every single day, on conveying that clear and concise message. Do that vocally. Remember, the number one culprit is face-to-face communication. Practice. Practice because that is the only way to become clear and concise. You have to work on it. If you are not constantly practicing and working on being clear and concise and just doing it every once in a while you are going to get stuck at hinting at things and sending mix mixed messages and avoid getting to the point as quickly as possible.

That my friends is not a good thing. Get to work!

Thank you,
David Guerra

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Here are some Tags: Tags: • The Walking Leader • Great To Follow • Leadership • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero