Authentic Leadership Theory: Michelle Loconte

Authentic leaders are ethical and have integrity.  What they say is the same as what they do.  This leadership theory is fairly new, although its values are not.  Authentic leadership has several different definitions but an authentic leader is generally characterized as having:

• a desire to serve
• integrity and ethics
• a strong moral compass and core values
• pursuit of worthy objectives
• a desire to empower workers for the good of the organization
• positive organizational citizenship

An authentic leader becomes genuine because they know themselves.  They are reliable and dependable.  Relationships between authentic leaders and their "followers" are often characterized as:

• open and trusting
• guided toward worthy objectives
• emphasis on follower development

Authentic leaders want their followers to grow into authentic leadership roles, too.  Authentic leaders build relationships based on honesty, trust, and a moral purpose.  There are two major components to authentic leadership.  Those components are self-awareness and self-regulation.  The figure below shows us what authentic leadership and authentic followership looks like.  Our self-awareness and self-regulation often stems from events in our life, personal history or trigger events.  Personal history events are our role models in life, our upbringing, and our experiences through education and work.  Trigger events are events that were extremely significant in our lives or crisis-centered that helped us to grow.  In the authentic leadership theory, it is believed that these two types of events help shape us into the leaders that we will become. 

 

 

When a leader becomes more self-aware and self-regulated, they are able to find balance between their words and their actions.  They are able to be truthful within their dealings and true to their own values at the same time.  When this occurs, it is often referred to as rational transparency. 

 

Authentic leadership creates a positive work environment.  When followers feel that their leader is being honest, ethical, and truthful, they tend to be more honest, ethical, and truthful.  When followers see that their leader is dedicating service to their shared values, they will be motivated to dedicate service to their shared values. 

 

However, one negative or untrustworthy experience with an authentic leader can disrupt the entire system.  It is important as an authentic leader to make sure that your values and goals are the same as the organizations.  It is important to remain honest and trustworthy at all times.  It is important as an authentic leader to genuinely value positive, professional relationships with followers.  It is important to remain consistent and available.

 

 

 

1. Why do you think it is important to self-reflect as an authentic leader?
2. How transparent is too transparent?
3. Think of an example of when a leader's actions may differ from their words.