The growing need for genuine, transparent organizational leadership stems from a shift in the dynamics of modern workplaces. Employees and stakeholders seek leaders who offer honesty, display consistent ethical behavior and provide clear communication.
Authentic leadership builds trust and engagement through transparency, consistency and genuine connection. Value-driven leaders provide psychological safety within an organization, which leads employees to feel valued, more engaged and confident in organizational decisions. Academic programs, such as the online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Organizational Leadership from Arkansas State University (A-State), help professionals become the authentic leaders companies are looking for.
What Is Authentic Leadership?
Authentic leadership is a leadership style focused on genuineness, self-awareness and ethical behavior. Distinguishing features of authentic leaders include a commitment to bettering themselves, mission-driven decision-making, the cultivation of self-awareness and the ability to inspire trust in their decisions. With an emphasis on openness, integrity and consistent values, authentic leadership builds trust and fosters stronger, more engaged teams that mirror the integrity of organizational leaders.
While traditional leadership styles are typically grounded in authority or a command-and-control model, authentic leadership is a human-centered approach focused on inspiring and empowering teams. Traditional leadership derives its power from a formal title and rigid organizational hierarchy. Authentic leadership earns its authority through credibility, action and genuine relationship-building.
What Are the Key Characteristics of Authentic Leaders?
Authentic leaders have both a deep understanding of technical skills in finance, scheduling, auditing and analysis and crucial soft skills, including self-awareness, transparency, integrity and empathy. They lead with a strong sense of purpose and values, are consistent in their actions, and focus on the well-being, happiness and fulfillment of their team. The following are key markers of authentic leadership:
- Self-awareness: Leaders possess a deep understanding of their own strengths, weaknesses, emotions and values. They take responsibility for their actions.
- Emotional intelligence: They demonstrate genuine concern for others’ well-being and listen to understand their feelings and perspectives. Empathy lives in the forefront.
- Relational transparency: Leaders are open and honest when dealing with others, whether employees, stakeholders or clients. What they say is what they mean.
- Moral compass: They remain centered on a strong internal moral perspective and set of principles, rather than succumbing to external pressures or short-term gains.
- Purpose-driven: Leaders are passionate about their work. They have a clear sense of purpose that guides their decisions.
- Humility: They don’t take credit for the success of others, nor do they blame others for their failings. They share credit with their team and celebrate individual achievements.
Authentic Leadership Theory Explained
The theory of authentic leadership originates from Bill George’s book Authentic Leadership. His theory was a response to the many corporate scandals that fueled a demand for more transparent and ethical leaders. George, a former CEO of Medtronic and Harvard professor, argued that leaders’ lives and values are more crucial for success than status or money. Following George’s work, researchers, including Fred Luthans and Bruce Avolio, further developed the theory, formally defining it with components including self-awareness, transparency and ethics.
The theory has evolved, including the development of instruments such as the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ), which calls for reliable measurement and research. Researchers have also expanded their examination of how authentic leadership affects employees within a collective context. They consider the reciprocal relationship between leaders and employees, as well as the impact it has on organizational environments.
Through this ongoing research, core principles that guide authentic leaders have been established. These principles include:
- Vulnerability: The lowering of emotional walls to inspire others to lower theirs. This is how leaders can approach leadership on a human level, displaying their humanity to employees and asking them to display theirs in return.
- Humility: At its core, humility is the ability to think of others more than yourself. A humble leader inspires their team to engage and participate in the work as a unit.
- Transparency: A transparent leader has nothing to hide and, therefore, nothing to fear. This indicates honesty and conveys a commitment to the truth, even in difficult situations.
There is a clear link between leadership authenticity and long-term organizational success. By fostering an environment built on trust and a positive work culture, organizations report higher productivity, stronger financial performance and increased resilience during organizational change.
What Are the Benefits of Authentic Leadership in the Workplace?
The benefits of authentic leadership emphasize genuineness and strong ethics at every level. Leaders model positive behaviors for team members to emulate; in doing so, employees develop a higher level of commitment and loyalty to the leaders they trust. Benefits include:
- Increased trust: When a leader is genuine, it leads to higher levels of trust and confidence for team members.
- Psychological safety: Employees feel less anxiety, fear and apathy about their work when their leaders provide a safe and positive work culture with a foundation in social psychology.
- Increased employee engagement: Leaders who act with integrity help employees feel valued and connected to the organization’s purpose, leading to self-motivation.
- Better employee retention: Authentic leaders foster a positive environment that team members look forward to being part of, thereby reducing employee turnover.
- Collaborative environment: Employees are more likely to work together, share big ideas and encourage one another when that behavior is modeled in leadership.
- Shared purpose: Fostering trust and commitment leads to aligned actions and a shared purpose that strengthens an organization’s long-term success.
How Do You Develop an Authentic Leadership Style?
To develop an authentic leadership style, reflect on your personal values and natural strengths. A program like A-State’s online B.A. in Organizational Leadership can help to align your actions with core beliefs.
By combining this approach with purposeful feedback seeking to enhance your self-awareness, you’ll cultivate a leadership style rooted in authenticity. Ask yourself the following questions when reflecting on your leadership style:
- What are my most deeply held values, and why are they important to me?
- How have my values evolved, and how do they influence my actions as a leader?
- What are my core strengths, and how can I better utilize them?
- What difficult decisions have I had to make, and what was the reasoning behind my choices?
- When have I been a more effective leader because I behaved authentically?
How Does a Degree in Organizational Leadership Support Authentic Growth?
The online B.A. in Organizational Leadership degree from A-State supports authentic leadership growth with a mix of specialized courses and a focus on preparation for leading with integrity in diverse environments. Courses that develop authentic leadership include:
- Intercultural Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Social Psychology
- Organizational Communication
- Principles of Management
These courses help students develop in-demand skills, including communication strategies, critical thinking, employee relationships and problem-solving. With an advanced understanding of human dynamics, you’ll open the door to leadership opportunities in a variety of settings.
Start Your Journey Towards Authentic Leadership Today
Pursuing the B.A. in Organizational Leadership online degree from A-State can lead to career opportunities in managerial and executive-level roles. This fully online, affordable program offers several start dates and flexible scheduling, allowing you to pursue your professional goals without putting your life or career on hold.
Explore the program details, including courses, start dates and the admissions process. Apply today to A-State’s online B.S. in Organizational Leadership program to become an authentic leader in the modern workforce.