What does it mean to be “real?” How would you define being genuine in your role as a mindful leader? Does it simply mean being yourself, or does it mean something more? Does it mean striving for perfection so that you can claim to be genuine with the perk of seeming superhuman? Okay, okay… maybe not superhuman, but above average enough to make everyone (yourself included) believe that you’re worthy of being a leader? How would you define being real? In this month’s Mindful Leader Blog posts, we’ll explore some of the ins and outs of being genuine and how that can affect your effectiveness as a leader, no matter whom you happen to be leading.
Most people – and I do mean most, although it could be closer to all – are not 100% themselves 100% of the time. This is also true for leaders, and yes, even mindful leaders. Then think about this… are you exactly the same person around everyone you meet or interact with on a daily basis? What about with strangers? Are you the same person with a complete stranger as you are with an acquaintance or good friend? Probably not… mostly, maybe, but with subtle changes for each interaction.
Take a deep breath… let it out… and remember: it’s okay to adjust your behaviors according to the situation you’re in. Keeping things appropriate is important, and no one is asking you to remove your manners or sacrifice your privacy for the sake of putting everything out there. That’s not what being genuine is about.
As a mindful leader, your job isn’t to pretend to have a perfect life or try to do everything right all the time. If anything, trying to do this puts undue pressure on you and can actually hinder the effectiveness of your leadership. Though we’ve discussed this aspect of trying to be perfect in a previous post, the idea of being genuine and even vulnerable – human – in a leadership position is an important one that deserves reiteration.
Five Benefits of Being Genuine
1. You can stop pretending now ;). Yes… it’s okay to be yourself and let on that you’re not perfect. The respect you receive and inspire from your people has never come from them thinking you’re perfect… no matter how well you thought that mask worked.
2. Being genuine allows you to be honest in a plethora of situations. Something funny happens when you decide to be fully yourself… you respect yourself more. All those times you took on too much because you thought you couldn’t say no or no one else would do it right? You know what I’m talking about… well, now it becomes easier to say no, delegate, and tell someone very simply what your opinions are without turning into a jerk about it.
3. Although the pressure to lead well will still be there, being genuine allows you to connect with people on a much deeper level, especially if you’re open about some of your own vulnerabilities.
4. Your inner strength will shine through much more easily without that mask in the way. Not only does this inspire more respect and compassion toward you, it also sets you free in ways that aren’t possible from a place of ego, overwhelm, or pressure to succeed at all costs. The very same compassion that you inspire will also be easier to show toward others, especially when they need it most.
5. Although putting yourself out there can seem scary if you’ve been in a place of hiding (whether that be from your flaws, shortcomings, or a fear of failure… or success), once you overcome the initial hurdle of being out there and connecting, you’ve taken a small but vital step toward the ultimate goal: growth. Be it personal, professional, spiritual, or any other “-al,” growth is a constant and necessary part of life, no matter which aspect of it that you’re working on.
Being genuine isn’t just a skill that mindful leaders should possess… it’s also a vital part of living your life to its fullest from the inside out. After all, would you rather work with or be around someone who’s clearly faking it? Or does genuine human connection sound more appealing? Though we often isolate ourselves (this seems to happen to leaders especially), we are still human, and most humans would much rather be around other real humans.
