In his thesis, Being and Nothingness (1943), referred to by Chan et al (2005a, Pg 3), the philosopher Jean Paul Sartre describes authenticity as ‘a personal search for meaning, arguing that mankind, having been confronted with the meaningless existence, embarks on a search for the true self. However, authenticity needs to be earned and emerges from its social context, under the guidance of one’s own conscience’. Victor Frankl (1959: Pg 124) suggests that at any moment, man must decide, for better or for worse, what will be the monument to his existence, or the legacy that he wishes to leave behind. In my experience, there often comes a time where we start searching who we really are, the purpose of our lives, and the legacy we wish to leave behind. This ties in with how both Jean Paul Sartre, and Victor Frankl relate to humanness and authenticity.
Adrian Chan et al (2005a: Pgs xxii-xxiii) suggest that authentic leadership is a logical extension of the authentic self and a root construct of all true leadership. ‘Authentic leaders are leaders who: (a) know who they are, and what they believe in; (b) display transparency and consistency between their values, ethical reasoning and actions; (c) focus on developing positive emotional states such as confidence, optimism, hope, and resilience within themselves; (d) are widely known and respected for their integrity’.
They continue (2005a: Pg 4) that the leader who is authentic can achieve more than any other leader. The extent that the leader is authentic as a person directly affects the efficacy of his / her leadership style on followers.
The three guiding lights for any true leader are usually meaning, purpose and vision (Klenke, 2005: Pg 171). Authentic leaders and followers strive to find an overarching meaning and purpose in their lives that connects them with a deeper sense of individual and collective self.
In my experience, once we understand more meaningfully who we are in terms of our self-identity, and what drives us, for instance, in terms of our purpose and vision, our values and beliefs, and our emotional states, then we can consciously decide how to use what we have in terms of internal and external resources in order to become effective and empowering leaders for self and others.
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