Authentic Leadership, Why Your Team Needs The Real You.

Leadership is about creating an environment where every person, voice and perspective is valued, and every talent is nurtured, including your own. Communication is critical to leadership and affects the whole team when it falters. And believe me when I say there are many weird and wonderful ways it can falter, and you don't even realise it. I learned this early in my career. After a promotion, I tried to become the leader I thought everyone wanted me to be instead of being authentic. Another senior leader advised me to stop being so kind and fun-loving and take control of my team. They informed me that too much collaboration slowed things down, and I should have had more gravitas (I'm still unsure what it is). I tried to follow their lead, and honestly, I have never been so unhappy, and my team felt it. Fortunately, the team came to me and gave me some feedback. We had an honest and kind conversation in which I opened up and shared my vulnerability and what I thought I should be doing. I realised that in not being true to myself, I was silently sabotaging myself and not doing some of the basics that were an explicit part of my authentic leadership style. Together, we moved forward and built one of the best teams I've ever worked with, and I became a happy, energised and better leader. Since then, I have focused on building an authentic leadership style and gathering feedback.

Here are some mistakes I made when trying to be someone I wasn't, and yes - my team gave it to me straight, LOL.

1. Failing to Set Clear Expectations and Goals

Ambiguity is the enemy of effective leadership. Without clear expectations, your team may struggle with confusion and lack of direction. They may even go rogue. It’s not enough to issue orders; collaborate with your team on goal setting to ensure everyone feels involved and understands their role. When expectations are explicit, team members can focus on achieving shared objectives without second-guessing their efforts.

2. Mistaking Silence for Agreement

Silence doesn’t always mean agreement. It often masks hesitation, discomfort or discord. Team members might be too intimidated to voice their concerns or opinions, especially if they fear negative repercussions. As a leader, you must create a culture where everyone feels comfortable speaking up. Encourage open dialogue and actively seek out the input of those holding back.

3. Overloading with Information

Information is power, but too much of it can be paralysing. When team members are overwhelmed with details, they may struggle to prioritise tasks or make decisions. To avoid this, break your messages down to the essentials. Focus on clarity and conciseness, delivering information in manageable chunks that your team can easily digest and act upon. Adding personal stories and collaborating helps to embed messages and information.

4. Ignoring Non-Verbal Cues

Communication isn’t just about words; non-verbal cues are significant in receiving and interpreting messages. Ignoring body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice is like missing half the conversation. As a leader, you must be attuned to these subtle signals in yourself and others. Recognising when someone is uncomfortable, disengaged, or confused allows you to address issues before they escalate.

5. Letting the Loudest Voices Rule

In any group, there will be those who are quick to speak and others who prefer to reflect before sharing their thoughts. If you allow the loudest voices to dominate, you risk missing out on valuable insights from your quieter team members. Create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Encourage participation and ensure the quiet, deep thinkers have the time and space they need to process and share their ideas.

6. Relying on One-Way Communication

Leadership isn’t about issuing directives from on high; it’s about developing dialogue and collaboration. When communication flows in only one direction, from leader to team, you stifle innovation and can breed distrust. Engage in two-way conversations, where ideas are exchanged and feedback is valued. This not only builds trust but also drives creativity and problem-solving.

7. Undervaluing the Power of Listening

Listening is more than just hearing words; it’s about understanding the underlying message. Yet, many leaders underestimate its importance. Active listening involves giving your full attention, asking clarifying questions, and responding thoughtfully. When team members feel heard, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to the team’s success.

8. Not Encouraging Feedback

Feedback is a gift, but you're missing out on growth opportunities if you’re not actively seeking it. Your team’s insights can reveal blind spots, offer new perspectives, and highlight areas for improvement. Make feedback a regular part of your communication process, and act on it when appropriate. This shows your team that their input is valued and you are committed to continuous improvement.

9. Failing to Create a Safe Environment

A team that doesn’t feel safe to experiment, push boundaries, or make mistakes will stagnate. Innovation requires a willingness to take risks, and that only happens in an environment where failure is seen as a learning opportunity, not a disaster. As a leader, it’s essential to foster a culture where team members feel secure enough to try new things without fear of harsh criticism or punishment and where everyone celebrates success.

10. Micromanaging

Micromanagement is a sure way to erode trust and stifle initiative. When you control every aspect of your team’s work, you send the message that you don’t trust their abilities. This creates a vicious cycle of poor performance, as team members become overly reliant on your direction and lose confidence in their skills. Instead, focus on empowering your team by providing the resources, guidance, and autonomy they need to succeed.

My most important message here is to be your authentic self. It's the only place you will be happy; happiness affects and infects everyone around you.

If you are facing challenges with your team or colleagues and are looking to develop your leadership skills, then coaching can help. If you'd like to explore this more, don't hesitate to contact me for an introduction to coaching and how I can help.