By Lori Brewer Collins -

Leaders strive to be people of influence, but people often overlook the significance of authenticity in crafting and expanding their influence.

Ultimately, leadership development is almost entirely about self-development. The best leaders are willing to take themselves through an inner journey of who they are and integrate their discoveries into their daily lives.

They are aware – or they’re becoming aware – of their effect on other people, they dive deeply into how they make meaning of the world around them, and they give serious thought to who they are in the human family. The deeper that dive, the more compassion they have for themselves and for those around them.

Authenticity sits at the foundation of this journey. If you want to become a more authentic leader, consider these thoughts:

1) Authentic leaders are OK with imperfection

The best leaders have this wise capacity to embrace all of who they are. They acknowledge their gifts and talents, but they also recognize that they aren’t perfect – and they’re OK with their imperfection.

This leader gains influence because others become more OK with their own imperfections. That doesn’t mean the other people lower their standards or fail to deliver with their responsibilities. But they recognize that they have flaws and need other team members to complement and complete what they bring to the table.

2) Authentic leaders place a high value on humility

You didn’t get to where you are today alone. The best leaders know this truth. They acknowledge the role others have played and continue to play in their success. This contributes to an attitude of real, genuine humility.

When you develop greater humility, people feel like they’re being listened to and acknowledged. The authentic leader hears more because he/she listens more. This gives them access to more input and ideas – and all of that plays into problem solving and team success. Humility gives you an enlarged sense of how you can get things done.

3) Authentic leaders are comfortable in their own skin

When people are authentic and content in who they are, others are just naturally drawn to their energy. I remember watching a television appearance by Desmond Tutu on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson and being struck by how completely at ease this South African archbishop is. His words were significant, but it was his presence that was profound. If someone else had spoken the same statements but with less authenticity, the impact would have been minimal, and the words probably would have sounded trite. But coming from him, they held weight and value, and the audience was clearly listening.

How you communicate matters – your body language, the nonverbal cues, the way you carry yourself. There’s something about reaching that place in life where you can be genuinely comfortable in your own skin. You can tell when someone is self-accepting. It’s attractive, and it opens the door to greater influence on others.

When I work with clients, I encourage them to launch and maintain this ongoing process of lifelong learning, reflection, and invitation to deeper insights. The more they do that, the more authentic they become. The tenor of their message becomes more resonant – and I watch as their influence grows.

Lori Brewer Collins is owner and managing principal of Artemis Leadership Group, a firm that focuses on leadership and organizational development, executive coaching and team facilitation. Collins’ background includes the Center for Creative Leadership – Europe as well as consulting and training for leaders and teams throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. She was a part of the original team at Saturn Corporation (General Motors) where she was leader of corporate culture and retail training. Her distinct gift is helping others to achieve clarity in the midst of complexity, uncertainty and change. http://www.artemisleadership.com/

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