The best leaders I know emanate an aura of authenticity. They tend to put us at ease -- with them, with ourselves, with the challenges we face together.
Those impactful leaders understand that the team is smarter than the individual and that the team needs the best each individual can offer.
I often see those authentic leaders tackle complex issues NOT by putting their predetermined solutions on the table, but rather by asking questions like...
"What pieces of the puzzle do we still not have?"
"What are our options for handling this?"
"Who might we consult with that can provide valuable insight before we move forward?"
"How have we handled similar sticky issues in the past, and what did we learn from it?"
Notice that each of those questions strongly implies that the leader is LISTENING to others.
For those of us who find ourselves in leadership roles, perhaps the foundation of authenticity is the assumption that we have much to learn. The stronger the team, the more we learn.
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