How To Become An Authentic Leader As A Manager

Understanding how to become an authentic leader of a department in a business is the first priority for anyone who wants to succeed in management. Being a manager should mean much more than just issuing orders; a good manager needs to get superior job performance by helping the staff excel. It is a matter of mutual trust and dependence, not of ‘I can fire you if you fail to please me.’

It is important that a manager understands the job in all its aspects, in order to win the respect of the employees who actually get the job done. If the job is new (the manager has been hired for personnel skills rather than having come up in the department) then it will be necessary to take the time to learn the job before many changes are implemented. Senior staff members should be good sources of information, and the new manager can get to know the staff while learning the ropes.

When the time comes to make changes or institute new policies, the reasons for the changes should be clearly explained to all who will be affected. If upper management has seen some problems, these should be shared with all if that is feasible. Employees will support changes that they understand. For instance, if a very work-intensive event is initiated and repeated, let the staff know the revenue increases that result (and their increased job security) and they will be much more willing to accept the extra work.

It will sometimes be necessary to terminate the employment of an individual, but this is a failure of leadership as much as it is of job performance. The manager should examine the situation to see what went wrong or failed to happen, so that future situations may have a happier outcome.

Impartiality is absolutely basic to successful leadership, and this is an area where many managers fall short of the attitude that should ‘come with the territory’. A person who cannot judge all workers with the same criteria will not be able to defend decisions even when they are right. Nothing harms a department more than favoritism that comes from the top. Furthermore, it is totally unprofessional and an unnecessary complication to the success of all concerned. Favored employees will not need to do their best and slighted ones may suffer from low morale and resentment.

Having a job is a privilege, but it is also of very great importance to the individual who holds the job and thereby earns a living. For this reason, all good leaders will be careful to guard the livelihood of the staff under their management. Knowing that one is a valued part of the production of any product, whether it be a car off the assembly line or good customer service, makes for a good worker and a happy work environment. This should be the goal of anyone who accepts a management position.

Having a passion for the job to be done and being able to communicate that passion to staff who are all aware that job performance and attitude can earn their just reward, is the foundation of a well-run department. The satisfactory performance numbers will rise, workers who want to do a good job will be happy, and the work will be done well. The manager will stand out as a good leader, will have the support of the staff, and will be able to make improvements in a way that no one will perceive as threatening.

How to be an authentic leader needs the basic qualities of being a good person, which include honesty, consideration for others, and a willingness to work with others toward a common goal. Add attention to detail and a capacity for hard work, and you have all that is needed to manage others to mutual advantage.

Authentic leadership is a talent that not everyone is born with, but it can be learned. If you want to receive business life coaching, you can practice the methods and techniques for true leadership.