What's Your Authentic? 3 Keys to Finding and Leading with Authenticity

The truth about "authentic" is that there're no two alike.

Some leaders have more self-doubt and are more forward with vulnerability and transparency.

Others, forge ahead boldly, taking more risks.

Whether your style is more or less successful, depends on 3 factors:

1. Organization culture

2. Economic times

3. Your ‘natural’ style

If your style leans more toward self-doubt, there are some advantages: Leaders with self-doubt tend to be more compassionate towards other and lead with empathy.

Those who tend more toward over-confidence, tend to take more strategic risks. While these are gross generalizations, finding your authentic style is important and must be calibrated to meet economic times.

Do you lean more towards over-confidence or self-doubt?

What's the "better" leadership style? It depends, according to 2022 research conducted by the Journal of Management.

Here are the keys to finding alignment:

1. Self-doubt has it's leadership advantages. But when the economy is more robust, lean into your courage to take more risk.

2. Over-confident CEOs are more likely to make strategically risky decisions. This can pay off during good economic times. But during detrimental during economic downturns, risk can be detrimental. What's called for now?

3. What's natural to you? Authenticity starts with knowing oneself. This is a lifelong endeavor.