Often, high-performing knowledge workers receive promotions into leadership positions, but their previous work isn’t necessarily what will help them find success as leaders.
Also, no one leadership book will help a new leader discover their leadership style. Each leader brings unique strengths, experiences, and personalities to the table, and learning about those unique characteristics is what helps good leaders become great.
Understanding your leadership style is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness and inspiring your team. One powerful lens through which to explore your leadership style is motivation – both how you motivate yourself and how you motivate others.
Lean into motivation
Motivation is the driving force behind our actions and decisions. As a leader, your unique Motivational Dimension can significantly impact your team’s performance and overall success. Understanding the Motivational Dimensions of the people you lead and ensuring that you lead them in a way that helps them find fulfillment is also critical to success.
Great leaders uplift and empower their teams, but they can only do so through authentic and honest communication.
The perils of inauthentic leadership
When leaders are inauthentic, their relationships with subordinates are shrouded in dishonesty. Presenting a false persona or acting inconsistently with their true values erodes trust and credibility.
Team members can often sense when a leader is being disingenuous, leading to:
- Skepticism
- Disengagement
- Communication breakdowns
- Poor decision making
- Inconsistent behavior
- Loss of respect
- Stifled innovation
- A toxic work environment
In the long run, inauthentic leadership undermines the leader’s effectiveness and can damage the organization’s performance and reputation. Therefore, while the journey to authentic leadership may be challenging, the risks of inauthenticity far outweigh any perceived short-term benefits of putting on a false front.
Authenticity is critical for effective leadership
Authentic leaders inspire trust and respect by consistently aligning their actions with their values and beliefs. They openly acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses, fostering a culture of transparency and genuine connection within their teams.
Honesty and self-awareness make leaders more relatable and encourage team members to bring their authentic selves to work. When leaders are authentic, they create an environment where:
- Creativity flourishes
- Communication flows freely
- Team members feel empowered
- Innovation and ideas flow
Remember, your unique experiences, perspectives, and personality traits make you an irreplaceable leader. Embracing your authenticity allows you to lead with conviction and inspire others not just through your words but through the genuine example you set every day.
By understanding your Motivational Dimensions, you can develop a leadership style that feels authentic to you and inspires and empowers your team to achieve great things.
Remember, the best leaders are those who know how to motivate others and understand what motivates themselves. So, take the time to reflect, observe, and grow—your unique leadership style is waiting to be discovered and refined.
How to find your authentic leadership style
Understanding and developing an authentic leadership style can be exciting and challenging for new leaders. Here are key ways that you can find a leadership style unique to you:
Know yourself
Knowing yourself is critical to finding authentic leadership and authentic relationships. Many times, organizational dynamics lead to high performers suppressing some of their core authentic selves to avoid conflict. As leaders, however, they must shift this perspective and embrace their authentic selves. It becomes critical to “do the inner work” of uncovering unconscious blocks that get in the way of success. Motivation Code can help identify core motivations that highlight motivational advantages.
Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and tracking your leadership journey.
Seek feedback from others
Complement your own observations with those from others. Actively seek feedback from peers, mentors, and team members. Use 360-degree feedback tools to comprehensively understand how others perceive your leadership style. Pay attention to both positive feedback and constructive criticism, as they can provide valuable insights into your authentic strengths and areas for growth.
Experiment with different approaches
While staying true to your core values, don’t be afraid to experiment with different leadership techniques. Try various communication styles, decision-making processes, or communication strategies. Reflect on the most natural and effective approaches for you and your team. Remember, authenticity doesn’t mean rigidity – it means finding what truly works for you.
Study and learn from other leaders
While you shouldn’t copy others, you can gain insights by studying various leadership styles. Read biographies of leaders you admire, attend leadership seminars, or seek out mentorship opportunities. Observe how different leaders handle challenges and inspire their teams. Reflect on what authentically resonates with you and how you might incorporate those elements into your own style.
Practice mindfulness and emotional intelligence
Developing self-awareness is crucial for authentic leadership. Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present and aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Work on improving your emotional intelligence – the ability to recognize and manage your own emotions and those of others. This will help you lead with greater authenticity and empathy, fostering stronger connections with your team.
Commit to lifelong learning and leadership development
Remember, discovering your authentic leadership style is an ongoing process. It requires patience, honesty, and a willingness to learn and adapt. As you grow in your leadership role, your style may evolve, but staying true to your core values and continually striving for self-awareness will ensure that your leadership remains authentic and effective.
If you’re a new leader or if your organization recently shifted to hiring new people into leadership roles, Motivation Code can help. Contact our team for more information.
