Authentic Leadership — How to Lead While Staying True to Yourself As I started taking leadership roles in my career, I thought I had to copy the exceptional leaders I’m inspired by. Over time, I realized that authentic leadership contributes to the biggest positive impact on my teams. It turns out the key to being a great leader is learning to be yourself, just in a leadership position. HubSpot asked marketing leaders about the most important qualities they consider when deciding to promote an individual to a senior position. Of respondents, 39% said leadership, making it the top factor. Like you, I was motivated to become a better leader, so I sought guidance. In this article, I’ll go over what authentic leadership entails, why it’s important, and how to discover which type of leadership feels most genuine to you. Table of Contents What is Authentic Leadership? What is Authentic Leadership Theory? Why Authentic Leadership is So Impactful The Challenge of Authentic Leadership How to Be an Authentic Leader Common authentic leadership characteristics include: Humility. Integrity. Empathy. Discipline. Transparency. Self-awareness. Commitment to personal development. These qualities help those in charge inspire their teams, which is crucial for anyone who wants to be an effective leader. In a survey of marketing leaders, 39% of respondents listed “motivating and empowering their team” as the number one thing they can do to make the...