Leadership-Less “Authenticity” & More Concern For Others

Would you agree that one of the keys to success these days is to be "authentic".  We hear that a lot it but what does it mean to be authentic?

INC, defines “not false or copied; genuine; real ...representing one’s true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person identified.”

"Just be yourself." is great advice in a lot of social settings but some experts say maybe you shouldn't "live your truth" out loudly at all times, at least around the office. Adam Grant of the New York Times writes, "No one wants to see your true self. We all have thoughts and feelings that we believe are fundamental to our lives, but that are better left unspoken."

Science agrees . People who pay attention to those around them, and adjust their behavior accordingly, tend to advance their careers more rapidly and achieve higher status among their peers compared to low self-monitors - those who are more focused on themselves rather than what goes on around them.

So what's the secret sauce to success if it isn't being true to yourself?  It's being true to the needs of others.

High self-monitors are much more aware of what the people around them need, and how those individuals are reacting to them in the social sense. Science says people with this trait tend to make good leaders because they are more likely to learn from and embrace the traits and habits of those around them, which over time makes them more effective leaders.