Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership: Cultivating Authenticity and Humility for Success
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Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership
Cultivating Authenticity and Humility for Success
Presented by Compassionate Edge Counseling Services
Leadership has been a hot topic of discussion in the business world for years. Yet, despite all the available resources and literature, it continues to be a source of debate due to its importance for success. Social media is saturated with quotes, articles, and phrases related to leadership, in an attempt to provide insight into how to be an effective leader. But with ever-increasing workplace stress (https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress) caused by a variety of job demands, effective leadership is becoming more challenging to identify and cultivate. Whatever the view on the subject, one truth prevails: true leadership is not confined to having a certain title or position; rather, it is a combination of qualities and behaviors anyone can develop and demonstrate.
The Essentials of Effective Leadership
Throughout my career, I have encountered a range of different leadership styles employed by many different types of leaders, the most impactful of which possess certain qualities that have enabled them to lead well. Two qualities emerge with the most impact: authenticity and humility.
Authentic leaders exhibit behaviors that demonstrate consistency with their values and beliefs. They welcome diverse perspectives when making decisions and seek out constructive feedback from their team in order to strengthen their interpersonal interactions. According to research in Frontiers in Psychology, people who perceive their leader as authentic are more likely to have positive work-related attitudes, experience greater well-being at the workplace, and experience higher performance outcomes.
Humility in leaders is a crucial factor for effective leadership. Humility is the willingness to recognize and accept that one is not all-knowing, but rather is open to learning from others. Humble leaders understand that leadership is a shared responsibility and collective effort, and they are willing to invest in the growth of their team. Furthermore, they recognize that their own success is connected to and dependent on that of their team, therefore they need to create conditions where everyone excels, not just work.
Getting Personal
I vividly recall working under the leadership of two women, and, surprisingly enough, it was one of the most stifling, misogynistic environments I've ever been in. Yes, women can also be misogynistic. From this experience, I learned what true leadership is not.
True leaders strive not for power or dominance over others. Power and dominance come from a hierarchical way of thinking, rooted in insecurity and fear.
True leaders do not divide, harass, denigrate, insult, disempower, dictate, or oppress. Instead, they strive to unite, empower, encourage, enrich, respect, and foster an atmosphere of open collaboration and shared growth.
In essence, true leadership is about humility and authenticity. Authentic and humble leaders have a positive influence over their team. They inspire individuals to capitalize on their strengths and take ownership of their work for the collective success of the entire organization. I now have the pleasure of working with true leaders, who possess a sense of self-awareness and recognize the power of their words and actions, which they use to motivate and inspire. Their authority operates with the intention of bettering the group as a whole, not for personal gain - and certainly not for power. These leaders build trust not only through their own exemplary conduct, but also by demonstrating a commitment to understanding and accountability. They may not have a prestigious title, but they possess the essential qualities to unite people in pursuit of a joint mission - improving mental health.
Influential Leadership Inspires Success
In today's competitive and often chaotic business world, true leadership is essential for both success and well-being. No matter their role within an organization, everyone from small business owners to CEOs, supervisors, teachers, and clergymen should take responsibility in creating and sustaining positive, influential leadership practices. To do this, leaders must foster a culture of self-awareness, transparency, trust, creativity, and healthy work-life balance to create a strong and supportive team dynamic that allows individuals to contribute to collective success.
References
Duarte, A. P., Ribeiro, N., Semedo, A. S., & Gomes, D. R. (2021). Authentic leadership and improved individual performance: affective commitment and individual creativity’s sequential mediation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.675749
Luo, Y., Zhang, Z., Chen, Q., Zhang, K., Wang, Y., & Peng, J. (2022). Humble leadership and its outcomes: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.98032
About the Author
Regina Rogers, LCPC, NCC, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Compassionate Edge Inc. For more information about their services visit www.compassionateedge.com.
Regina Rogers, LCPC, NCC, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Compassionate Edge Inc. For more information about their services visit www.compassionateedge.com.
