Authentic Leadership: The Five Characteristics of Effective Leaders

Effective leaders share five characteristics:

1. Authentic leaders possess insight. Sometimes we think of this as vision. While this is important, leaders need more. They also need wisdomthe ability to see issues from a broader perspective, understand the principles involved, and recognize the best course of action for all concerned. 2. Authentic leaders demonstrate initiative. They dont sit on the sidelines, waiting until they have absolute certainty to act. Nor do they ask others to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. Instead, they go first, leading by example. They dont let fear hold them back.

3. Authentic leaders exude influence. The words influence andinfluenza come from the same root word. Real leaders are contagious. People catch what they have. People are drawn to their vision and their values. They are able to gather a following and move people to action. 4. Authentic leaders have impact. The world is changed because of their leadership. They are able to create real and lasting change. Unless something has shifted, they arent leaders; they are only entertainers. Impact is the difference that separates real leaders form posers.

5. Authentic leaders manifest integrity. Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, and Josef Stalin all possessed insight, initiative, influence, and impact. Yet their lives were not integrated with the highest values. Integrity ultimately determines the quality of a persons impactand their legacy.