Being True to Self
Authentic leadership is often described as “being yourself,” but effective authenticity goes much deeper. It requires leaders to understand their strengths, recognize where they need to grow, remain open to perspectives different from their own, and make sure their actions align with the values they communicate. That self-awareness can become a powerful foundation for leadership.
On Episode #31 of the PinLeader Podcast, Amy Hall, president and founder of the Empowerment Group, co-owner of Armstrong Steel, and a certified life coach, emphasized the importance of starting with an honest assessment of where you are. “Where you are is the perfect starting point,” she said.
Leaders can become so focused on growth, expansion, or reaching the next milestone that they overlook the value of understanding their current position. Before asking where an organization should go next, leaders should consider who they are, what they do well, and where they need the expertise of others.
Hall encourages leaders to “know your strengths as a manager and as a leader” and then surround themselves with people who bring capabilities they may not have themselves. That also means resisting the temptation to build a team of people who simply agree with every decision.
Authenticity requires enough confidence to welcome different viewpoints. In fact, Hall argues that expanding your perspective can make you “a better leader, a better coworker, a better manager and a better friend.” Leaders who assume their own experiences represent everyone’s reality may unintentionally limit communication, collaboration, and innovation. Listening to different perspectives does not require abandoning your own beliefs; it requires recognizing that another person’s experiences can also be valid.
This is especially important when creating workplace culture. Employees increasingly expect more than a paycheck. They want to know they matter. They want empathy, compassion, belonging, and an environment where they can contribute meaningfully.
Trust is also built when those values move beyond words. As Hall explains, “What you say and what you do has to be in alignment.”
That alignment is where authenticity becomes visible.
Leaders who demonstrate consistency between their values, decisions, communication, and behavior create a stronger foundation for trust. And when people understand the vision and feel valued within it, they are more likely to move together toward a shared goal.
As a leader, how closely do your everyday actions reflect the person, and the leader, you say you want to be?
Presented by ROAR Productions, The PinLeader™ Podcast is an interview format show hosted by Mays and Associates, Ltd. President & CEO Dr. Shanda Gore, that provides effective tips to those who are currently leaders or have a desire to become leaders. A new episode is released every Wednesday.
