Why Being an Authentic Leader is Critical to Achieving Collective Success

In our last article, we explored the importance of wellbeing through the leadership lens by emphasizing the importance of taking care of ourselves first, if we are expected to support our teams and organizations collective success.  This week, we are discussing a topic that is near and dear to me as a leadership coach and consultant – the importance of being an authentic leader.  

Being an authentic leader is critical to achieving collective success for several reasons:

Builds Trust and Credibility

Authentic leaders are genuine, transparent, and consistent in their actions and words which builds trust with their teams. It’s a well-known fact that people are more likely to follow leaders they believe are honest and true to themselves.

Fosters Stronger Relationships

Authentic leaders connect with their teams on a personal level by understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, as well as who they are outside of work. This fosters a deeper sense of connection, loyalty and commitment while deepening relationships.

Encourages Open Communication

By being open and authentic, leaders create an environment where team members feel safe to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. This leads to better collaboration, engagement and the achievement of results and business objectives.

Promotes a Positive Culture

An authentic leader sets the tone for a positive workplace culture by demonstrating the right behaviors which motivates others to be themselves, leading to a more inclusive and productive work environment.

Inspires Others

When leaders are authentic, they inspire others to bring their true selves to work. When they lead with integrity, that can foster a positive, productive, and trusting environment where teams can thrive. This can lead to increased creativity, innovation, and overall job satisfaction. 

Increases Engagement and Performance

People are more likely to be engaged and committed when they feel their leader genuinely cares about them and is invested in their success. Teams led by authentic leaders are often more cohesive, motivated, and high performing, leading to better organizational outcomes.

The Hard Facts - Authenticity Impacts Your Bottom-Line Results

Here are a few studies and insights that underscore the importance of authenticity in leadership, showing its impact on trust, employee engagement, performance, and organizational outcomes:

• Gallup Workplace study shows that authentic leadership is a key driver of employee engagement. Engaged employees are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable than their less engaged counterparts. Authentic leaders, who are transparent and genuine, create environments where employees feel valued and engaged.

• Harvard Business Review indicates that companies with authentic leaders are 2.3 times more likely to have a higher level of organizational performance. Authenticity in leadership is linked to stronger financial performance and a more resilient business model.

• Center for Creative Leadership research indicates that teams led by authentic leaders have 19% higher performance metrics. This includes improved decision-making processes and better adaptability in changing markets.

• Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends show that authentic leadership increases employee loyalty, with 70% of respondents stating they are less likely to leave a company where they feel the leadership is genuine and aligned with their values.

These results and statistics highlight that authenticity in leadership is not just a desirable trait but a critical factor for driving trust, engagement, performance, and long-term success in organizations.

What Are Your Thoughts?

We want to hear what your thoughts are on this topic of authentic leadership. Are you leading with authenticity and connecting with your people on a more human level? We would love to hear from you so please reach out by emailing me at joanne.trotta@leadersedgeinc.ca or by calling 416.560.1806.