JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- "If you ask people in India why is it that Mahatma Gandhi was able to do what he did in India, they will say they followed him because of his absolute sincerity and his absolute dedication.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
A few months ago, I remember going to the local store to get a battery charger for my phone.
The stores were crowded with people; of course, it was the holiday season! Everyone was trying to get the “good deals,” do their last-minute shopping and get back home as soon as possible.
I knew that when I started driving to the store but I had a strategy!
Like any good warrior, my strategy was to picture in my mind exactly what I wanted, then infiltrate the store like some kind of “special forces agent” and get out quickly … unseen.
I arrived at the store promptly. Between the parking lot and the store entrance, I met tons of people, talked with several couples, friends, colleagues, moms and even some people who I didn’t even know. Finally, after almost an hour, I was able to move into the electronics department. (So much for my strategy, right?)
There they were. Hanging on the store rack, side-by-side -- the cell phone chargers. One of them was built by my phone’s manufacturer. The other, the alternate, was built by another company. I compared the prices, made a calculated decision (that’s what I thought) and bought the alternate.
When I got home, I unwrapped the charger, plugged it in to the wall and connected my phone to it. An hour later, I checked. My phone battery wasn’t charged. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when I took the charger off the wall, it came apart. I couldn’t believe it. “I should have bought the original,” I lamented.
What’s the obsession with buying or insisting you have the authentic? Have you thought about that? I did — especially that day.
Authenticity brings a certain kind of peace of mind and confidence that what we’re buying will deliver as expected. It’s a reputation we believe will be repeatable, and so we buy into it, sometimes, without even thinking about it.
In leadership or relationships with others, it is no different. We want leaders (friends or most significant others also) who are authentic. When we have leaders that are authentic, we follow them and work for them with ease. In short, we subscribe to them without thinking too much about it. No doubt, all of us want the real deal.
So what makes a person authentic? How do you become an authentic leader? It’s not complicated. Think. What comes to your mind? Here are some thoughts that quickly come to mine:
1. “My word is my bond.” Authentic leaders live by a creed embedded in personal accountability and social responsibility. They are careful about making promises without analysis, but once the analysis is done, they commit to fulfill their promise to themselves and others. We can always count on them.
2. The orange tree. Several years ago, I remember my grandma had a tree in the backyard. We, as kids, argued it was a mandarin-orange tree. When the time came, the tree bore fruit. Then we knew. It was a regular orange tree. Recognizing authenticity in leaders is very similar. Their “fruits” (or actions) will tell. If you want to become authentic, let your values and core beliefs be the moral compass that guides your actions.
3. Humanity and strength. Letting yourself be human makes you authentic. This means authentic leaders reach within for their own gifts to share with the world around them. They accept who they are and don’t try to be someone else. That’s their strength. Since they’re human, they also know they will make mistakes. But they’re not afraid of doing so.
4. Grateful. This last piece is the secret to happiness. Authentic leaders are thankful people. Their lives project thankfulness in actions with those they meet, in those they partner with and in those they live with.
This year, not only seek for authenticity in what you can buy, but seek to develop what can’t be bought: your own talents. Cultivate yourself because you are also gifted to be remarkably authentic.
Always motivated!