Authentic Leadership is the Heart and Soul of the Social Sector

I once heard leadership defined as an interaction where influence occurs. Notice there is no power dynamic or judgment. The influence is neither good nor bad. It is simply an interaction where influence happens.

Authenticity is defined as real, actual, or genuine. Not false. True to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.

When we put these two together, we get a solid definition of Authentic Leadership: A genuine interaction, true to one’s character, where influence occurs.

In his book Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secret to Creating Lasting Value, Bill George, author, and former Medtronic CEO, boldly states, “Authentic leaders of mission-driven companies will create far greater shareholder (donor, customer, employee) value than financially- oriented companies.“

For those of us working and living in the social sector, whether it’s running a nonprofit or grant making as a foundation, it’s fair to say our DNA is that of mission-driven leaders. We are deeply rooted in purpose. The heart and soul of a nonprofit is rooted in vision, mission, and values. We (and our Boards of Directors) regularly check in to ensure programs, services, and products are aligned with these guiding elements.

Characteristics That Define Authentic Leadership

According to Bill George, there are five main characteristics that define authentic leadership:

1. Purpose and Passion
2. Values and Behavior
3. Relationships and Connectedness
4. Self-Discipline and Consistency
5. Compassion

Authentic Leadership in the Social Sector

Let’s look at this from the lens of authentic leadership in the Social Sector:

• Purpose and Passion: Authentic leaders know their purpose and live it passionately. The DNA of our nonprofits breathes that passion and purpose each time a client finds housing, a woman is freed from domestic violence, or a child receives critical services, education, or intervention.
• Values and Behavior: Part of being an authentic leader means having a strong set of values and consistently sticking to them. Most organizations I get to work with have stated values and work to live them regularly. They support organizational decisions and performance. Those values often originate from the founder and resonate with employees, board members, stakeholders, donors, clients, etc. I would argue values are also the foundation of an organization’s culture.
• Relationships and Connectedness: Building relationships and having a real connection with others is an important characteristic of authentic leadership and nonprofits! Think about your fundraising or philanthropic mechanism. Is it not rooted in relationships? The question is are they AUTHENTIC relationships? Are you deeply connected to your donors, your community, and those you serve in a genuine and real way? Is this reflected in your communications, in your interactions, in your governance, and in your employees?
• Self-Discipline and Consistency: Having a strong sense of self-discipline is important for an authentic leader. Staying focused on specific goals and maintaining a consistent pace toward those goals is critical. A strategic plan or roadmap is a great tool to ensure the compass is set in the right direction, and you and your team are hitting the key benchmarks, or road signs, on that “Purpose Path.” Sometimes we veer off the road, which may be a good thing for growth or adaptation (think COVID). Sometimes we need to course correct because we stepped away from our values or our mission.
• Compassion: This is arguably the foundation on which the social sector was built. Someone somewhere suffered, had a deep longing, or a bold dream rooted in a big, hairy, audacious problem they wanted to solve. Compassion is what drives us each day to show up, do the hard stuff and work toward a better tomorrow. It’s how we treat others, how we treat our staff, and how we treat ourselves (hopefully).

Checklist for Authentic Leadership

1. What does your leadership look like?
2. Are you leading with authenticity?
3. Are you creating greater value and deeper impact rooted in values, relationships, and compassion?

==============================
Bill George beautifully states: 

“Authentic leaders place their emphasis on people, values, and ethics, creating a culture of authenticity, transparency, and honesty that ensures all employees are empowered and heard.“
==============================

TAKE ACTION
If you’re interested in exploring more of your authentic leadership, let’s talk.

On March 21, 2023   /   Authentic Leadership, Influence, Leadership, social sector