A640.6.4.RB - Authentic Leadership

A640.6.4.RB - Authentic Leadership

Authentic leadership is proposed as the core of effective leadership needed to build trust because of its clear focus on the positive role modeling of honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards in the development of leader-follower relationships (Wong & Cummings 2009).  Critics attribute authentic leadership to a way to manipulate and deceive followers. Martin and Sims (1956) and Bailey (1988) wrote that all leaders must be manipulative to succeed. Using the elements of thought, walk through the two statements above and compare and contrast the assumptions and implications of two such differing schools of thought.

Being authentic as a leader is being real, honest, and true to your followers because one cannot be deceptive and expect their followers to trust them. In the first statement, authentic leadership is proposed as the core of effective leadership needed to build trust and to be a positive role model (Wong & Cummings 2009). How can one lead and set an example if they are not true to their followers, the organization, and to their self? Su, Wilkins (2017) explained that authenticity is a relational behavior, not a self-centered one. Furthermore, they explained that to be truly authentic one must not only be comfortable with their self but must also comfortably connect with others. This supports the statement shared by Wong & Cummings that one must be true to their followers. A person cannot be an authentic leader if they are focused on their self, they must be selfless and give to others because focusing on self is in terms selfish.
In contrast, Martin & Sims (1956) and Bailey (1988) shared that leaders must be manipulative to succeed; this goes against the idea of authenticity and being real with followers. Manipulation is a control tactic to get others to do as you want, regardless of how they feel about the situation. This does not support authentic leadership in terms of understanding others and being honest. Monarth (2014) shared that manipulation by definition a form of persuasion in that the avoidance of negative consequences does indeed serve the needs of the target audience. Furthermore, Monarth (2014) explained that manipulation is a short-term strategy, destined to self-destruct unless stronger forms of manipulation are employed moving forward. 
More importantly, when it comes to authentic leadership the followers must trust and believe in their leadership because that is the element that persuades others to follow suit. Monarth (2014) shared that truth is the mortar that builds teams up, while manipulation is the jackhammer that tears it down.
Both educated and well-informed individuals founded above statements. The first statement about authentic leadership is powerful and meaningful but the goal is to be true, honest, and an inspiration to others. Any amount of deception or manipulation will divide the trust of followers and they will not be confidence in their leadership.

 


Monarth, H. (2014, July 10). Good Leaders Persuade. They Don't Manipulate. Retrieved November 20,2017, from Entrepreneur - us edition website: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235320#

Su, A. J., & Wilkins, M. M. (2017, April 24). To Be Authentic, Look Beyond Yourself. Retrieved November 20, 2017, from Harvard Business Review website: https://hbr.org/2013/04/to-be-authentic-look-beyond-you




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