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Courageously Authentic
This time of the year is always a great time to take a few minutes to reflect on our year, to think of the moments that challenged us, the moments that lifted us, the moments that brought us lessons, and the moments that brought us celebrations and joy. Making time to sit and reflect is how we learn new things about ourselves, how we process our experiences, and how we're able to learn and grow from them.
As I take this time to reflect on my year, I keep circling back to one word that I worked with a lot this past year. I'd like to share this word with you and see how we can together dig a little deeper and notice what we can learn about ourselves that helps us step into the next year with more clarity and courage. This word is "authenticity."
Authenticity
In coaching, we spend a lot of time building awareness around our values and beliefs and how they impact our behaviors. The more our values and beliefs are aligned with our actions in life, the more authentic we are.
To be authentic means to practice what we preach and to walk the talk. It means we live our values and principles and act according to them even in difficult situations. It means we are not afraid to have the difficult conversations and say what needs to be said. It also means we can own our mistakes and recognize our part in a problem. We allow ourselves to share how we truly feel and be vulnerable with others. When we are authentic in our lives and relationships with others, we earn trust and respect from people.
A few questions come to mind when thinking of the word authenticity. I hope you can take the time to reflect on these questions and see what value you can find in them. I encourage you to write your answers down, as this could help you uncover your thoughts and process your feelings better.
When thinking of your life and your past year, consider what does it mean for you to be truly authentic? Think about how and when in your life you were able to show up authentically and be yourself and when it was most challenging for you to do so.
Leadership And It's Relationship to Authenticity
According to the Universal Model of Leadership, there are five dimensions that measure a leader's effectiveness. These dimensions include a total of 18 competencies that make an effective leader. Authenticity is one of these five leadership dimensions, and it includes two of the 18 competencies: Integrity and courageous authenticity.
When leaders act with integrity while being courageously authentic, they do the right thing, follow through with their commitments and promises, and have difficult but necessary conversations. They lead with courage and don't shy away from dealing with risky issues. They do all of this while being guided by their values and principles.
According to the Universal Model of Leadership, integrity and authenticity are the two most desired qualities in a leader. People want to follow the lead of someone they can trust, and these two qualities earn people's trust and respect and, therefore, their loyalty.
Connecting with Our Inner Leader
Although we often view leadership as a topic reserved only for people in certain positions, I believe that leadership and leadership development is relevant and necessary to everyone. Leadership is made up of a set of skills and capabilities that we can benefit from and develop in ourselves regardless of the jobs or roles we fill.
Think about the many situations throughout your life where you had to step up and take the lead, whether it's to stand up with courage for what's right and speak up when others were too afraid to do so. Or you found yourself having to be the one to admit and own your part in a mistake and take responsibility for it. Or you chose not to follow others blindly but to find your own way because it felt right to do so.
These everyday examples are examples of us being courageously authentic while taking the lead. Every day we are faced with many chances to tap into our inner leader, connect with our authentic selves, and find the courage to make choices that make a difference for the better.
With the end of the year at our doorsteps, I invite you to take the time before welcoming this new year to notice which areas in your life you are able most to be authentic and genuine. Notice the areas most challenging for you to be yourself. Ask yourself what holds you back from living your values and principles or voicing your true thoughts.
My wish for all of us this coming year is to challenge ourselves to find that courage from within that connects to who we truly are and use that to do good in our communities. To stand up for someone, to help someone in need, to take the lead, and be an example of authenticity, courage, and integrity that others can follow. Imagine what difference that can make in our own lives and those around us.
I wish you and your families a joyful new year leading your lives with authenticity, integrity, and courage.
Sincerely,
Rasha Afifi-Talleh
Executive Coach
ACC, CPCC, ORSC
