Dimensions of An Authentic Leader
LDSP3000R51- Leadership Development - Module 3
Abstract
This paper will introduce you to the concept of the authentic leadership approach, pioneered by Bill George in 2003, which focus on the characteristics that make an individual an authentic leader. George found five dimensions which describe what authentic leadership means. The purpose of this assignment is to take a contemporary leader, who I deem to be an authentic leader, and see if they exhibit the behaviors described in George’s categories.
Dimensions of An Authentic Leader
The contemporary leader I chose to write about is Elon Musk, as I feel he is the definition of an authentic leader. According to Northouse (2016), there are “five dimensions of authentic leadership identified by George: purpose, values, relationships, self-discipline, and heart” (p. 197). Each dimension has a related characteristic, which are: passion, behavior, connectedness, consistency, and compassion. I will illustrate how Elon Musk meets these dimensions, and how authentic leadership provides a useful way to understand this person’s leadership.
Five Dimensions of an Authentic Leader
Passion and Purpose
Authentic leaders have a sense of purpose, are passionate, and truly care about their work. In an interview with fast Company, in February 2005, Elon musk said “failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not invading enough”; this screams passion to me. Passion and purpose emanate out of Musk’s pores, which is evident, because “Elon Musk interviews everyone he hires — he cares single-mindedly about the ‘what’, the ‘why’ and the ‘how’, and it permeates everything else and everyone else in the organization” (Labonte, 2015, royalgazette.com).
Values and Behavior
Authentic leaders behave towards others in accordance with their own values, they know who they are, and the right thing to do when the time comes. One of Musk’s greatest strengths is his undying commitment to excellence and moving forward beyond obstacles, he takes pride in practicing “what he preaches”. The failure SpaceX rocket launch was a huge failure of Musk’s program, Dolly Singh, a former employee of Elon Musk recalls the event by saying: “A failure in leadership would have destroyed us. . . [It was] the most impressive display of leadership that [I] had ever witnessed” (Padgett, 2015, Psu.edu). Singh said Musk motivated everyone with “fortitude and ferocity, saying: For my part, I will never give up and I mean never” (Padgett, 2015, Psu.edu).
Relationships and Connectedness
Authentic leaders establish a connection to others by being open, sharing their stories, as well as listening to others. In my opinion, to build healthy relationships, trust is needed between a leader and their followers. Musk gains the trust of his followers by “Being predictable [and] reliable, even in situations that are uncertain. . . Musk continued to fund the company out of his own pocket” (Padgett, 2015, Psu.edu). This dedication shows how connected Elon Musk is to his projects, people, company, etc.
Self-discipline and Consistency
Like a long-distance runner, an authentic leader needs to be disciplined and consistent to be successful in their field. Authentic leaders have objectives and standards of excellence, which is where this self-discipline helps them lead effectively. An example is that “Musk is known for not being shy about his capabilities–he speaks openly about his ability to learn complex topics. . . Additionally, to compensate for areas of weakness, he sources experts–recruiting professionals who are top in their field and relying on them to do the heavy lifting while still holding them to his standards of excellence”. (Padgett, 2015, Psu.edu).
Heart and Compassion
Authentic leaders that understand compassion, understand the struggles of those around them, including their communities close and abroad. A leader with heart and compassion want to help those around them as well. A good example of this would-be Elon Musk’s dedication to the environment, because “He has a vision of a world that is no longer reliant on fossil fuels, is maximizing their use of green energy, and is exploring space and building colonies on Mars” (Padgett, 2015, Psu.edu).
Criticism
While all this sounds great on the surface, authentic leadership is still a relatively new study approach. There are psychological factors that need to be considered, as well as correlative studies between self-awareness and a leader’s own values and beliefs. Like communism, it sounds great on paper, but would explain why I cannot name but a few people in my life who I feel demonstrated true authentic leadership.
Summary
True authentic leaders demonstrate “(1) They understand their purpose, (2) they have strong values about the right thing to do, (3) they establish trusting relationships with others, (4) they demonstrate self-discipline and act on their values, and (5) they are passionate about their mission” (Northouse, 2016, p. 197). Elon Musk cares about his followers, community, and the planet as a whole, he leads by example, and inspires everyone around him to be their best because of his authentic leadership style.
Conclusion
In conclusion, leadership is not always about being right. A leader who cares beyond the ethical aspects of the business, makes for a firm start towards authenticity. In today’s organizational map, followers want a leader with ethics, someone they can trust, relate to, and will follow to the ends of the earth.
References:
Labonte, A. (2015, November 3). Greatest leaders are authentic and honest. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20151103/BUSINESS05/151109950
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th Ed., pp. 197.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Padgett, L. N. (2015, March 26). Elon Musk: Transformational Leadership in Action. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2015/03/26/elon-musk-transformational-leadership-in-action/
