Tag: authentic leadership

Authentically Authentic

When I thought that about the concept of an authentic leadership course last year I had a feeling that other people would eventually grow this concept and what it means.  This week on the AUT Authentic Leadership Course, we have been very encouraged by the growth in understanding that all those we interacted with have taken from our authenticity.

“There’s no artificial stress”

“This course has a strong authentic identity”

“How does the strategy you are proposing relate to the organisation’s authentic purpose?”

“Everyone here is being themselves. It’s refreshing”

is a sample of some comments as the participants and others have interacted in the week-long journey. Reflecting at the end of this course I am struck by the deep desire in us all to lose the artificial constructs we put up in our work and home life so we can just be ourselves. One self. One authentic self.

I love it when participants and others comment that we role-model the authenticity. Actually it’s not that hard. We’re not pretending. It’s authentic.

Authentically Authentic. Go for it!

Stephen

All pumped up to go nowhere

We’re only three hours into the Authentic Leadership Course and I have a moment of reflection. We all know that adrenalin is a killer, so to speak, but console ourselves that it’s useful in getting ourselves moving/presenting/whatever.

I’m not so sure. This course has started and will continue I am sure without the use of that drug. Already, deep connections are being made and we are speaking of the trust that is already building. Building because we are all being ourselves. There’s no adrenalin-pumping stunts that seem to fill much of our business life – presumably to impress others and “get the point across”.

Get the point across. That’s it – feeding out stuff to unsuspecting and eventually unreceptive audiences – whether that be a class, a team or a board.

Three hours can get you to Sydney. It can also get you connecting in places you never thought possible with people you’ve never met before.

Imagine what you could do at work if you relaxed, trusted and lost the mask.  Now there’s a leader’s vision.


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Lucky 13

If you’re born on the 13th every now and again you’ll have a birthday on Friday 13th – infamous because of the Pope’s order to kill the Knights Templar (nothing to do with black cats actually!). I am sure Mum was happy to have me on the 13th – probably happy just to have me out!  I don’t remember the start now, but I’ve learned to be happy, including when it’s 13.

I headed off yesterday afternoon on a run from Titirangi shops through Exhibition Drive, Pipeline track to the Arataki Visitors Centre. Cruising through Exhibition Drive (flat!) my GPS watch told me I was sitting on 5.25 min/km.  Okay I thought, not bad, could improve but let’s see how we go.  The Waitakere forest is beautiful. Summer, Winter, sunny, rainy, misty it’s perfect I reckon.

But today was sunny and hot.  As I rounded the 7k mark deep into the forest, the GPS reports suddenly deteriorated and the average approached 6. My legs pumping I began the climb to the visitors centre through the new section of the Hillary Trail. It’s steep, windy and an ideal blowout for me prior to our Authentic Leadership Course today. But when you’re happy the hills are fine – and the run feels all the better for it.

Passing back into Titirangi, the GPS told me I’d done a little over 13km – 5.51 average.  Needs to improve but the legs have had a workout.

13.  We’ll start off cruising and happy today with our new cohort and we’ll do some uphill. It will be happy and rich with life like the forest. Welcome everyone, it’s going to be a great week. We’re ready. Let our reflection begin.


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Hey Mr Tiger, what do you bring to the table this year?

The Auckland Lantern Festival is a feast for the eyes and the mouth.  Inside the entrance to Albert Park is a brightly lit glass tiger, representing the animal that Chinese mythology prescribes for this year – the year of the tiger. So if are born in 2010 or going back, in multiples of 12 then the year of the tiger is your year. Like me!

Strolling around the Festival last night sporting the AUTCIL’s trademark “What makes you a leader?” T-shirt a group of teenagers called out “hey what makes you a leader”.  “What do you think?” I responded. “Oh this beautiful face” responded a girl.  “What is it?” said another.  “It’s what you have inside that makes you a leader” I said.  Still enthusiastic, Ms self-proclaimed Beautiful Face declared “It’s what you bring to the table”.

Well said.

What will you bring to the table during this year of the tiger?


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