Videos
Practical pointers for authentic leadership
Key takeaways, and things to try
Leadership can demand a lot of energy, and so being authentic is important. Reject the idea of a 'game face' or 'taking off the mask'. Managers and leaders who can show up as themselves will encourage others to do the same.
To be yourself you need to know yourself, and strengths are there to be played too. Reflect on the things that give you energy, and make sure to build these things into your day. And notice what saps your energy too — and avoid those things as much as you can.
Be empathetic, and human in working relationships. Sarah makes a habit of recalling some of the personal challenges of particular team members before going into meetings with them, using perspective taking to help connection.
Reframe networking as learning. Building a support network is key to leadership, and if the idea of 'networking' feels painful think of it purely in terms of continual learning. New relationships will feel like a bonus.
What small steps could you take to enrich your approach to leadership?