IT Leadership

I’ve always believed that you must lead yourself first before you lead a team. Every leader has a set of core values drive their behavior and decisions. Understanding these values and principles and aligning them with your leadership style and approach is a critical aspect of leadership. This is especially true in the context of IT leadership, where there are many dimensions to leading technological innovation and navigating a rapidly changing landscape. In this article, I want to focus on one aspect of leadership that is often overlooked: Leading with Authenticity. By being authentic, you are leading with a genuine purpose and belief system that inspires and motivates others to do the same.

Many leaders are familiar with some of the fundamental skills necessary to be an effective leader: setting a vision, communicating effectively, providing feedback, resolving conflicts, fostering collaboration, etc. These skills are essential to create an effective team and environment to achieve business goals. However, when a leader embodies a set of core values that drive their leadership style, they establish an inspirational vision that goes beyond the transactional aspects of work. When leaders lead with authenticity, they can foster more trust, encourage more robust conversations, and motivate people to act with a purpose that resonates with them. This article will focus on why authenticity is crucial for IT leaders, the challenges they may face, and some guidance on how to lead from an authentic perspective.

What does it mean to lead with authenticity?

Leading with authenticity means recognizing who you are as a leader and acting in ways that align with your beliefs and values. When you lead with authenticity, you are genuine, intentional, and transparent in your actions. You don’t rely on a persona or style that is disconnected from who you are as a person; instead, you are true to your core beliefs and values and let them guide your leadership style and decisions. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t evolve or change as a leader. Authenticity also involves recognizing that you will grow and change over time and that your beliefs and values may also evolve. It means that you are true to yourself in the present moment and act in ways that are congruent with who you are and what you stand for.

The importance of authenticity in IT leadership

Leading with authenticity is valuable in IT leadership for a few reasons. Firstly, the IT field is vast and encompasses many domains and technologies. From software development to infrastructure operations to network engineering and beyond, there are many different paths and specializations that an IT leader may encounter. A leader cannot be an expert in every domain. Leading with authenticity allows an IT leader to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and be confident in the areas they lead and the areas they rely on their team members’ expertise. A leader who tries to ‘fake it till they make it’ in every domain will quickly lose the confidence of their team members, impacting their ability to lead effectively.

Secondly, IT leadership often involves navigating complex, ambiguous, and rapidly changing environments. This context can be daunting for any leader, let alone a leader who must adhere to a leadership style that is incongruent with their beliefs and values. Taking a leading authentic approach means that a leader is comfortable with the unknown and embraces the challenges that emerge. Authenticity requires a level of vulnerability and humility that allows a leader to admit when they don’t have all the answers and empower the team to navigate these challenges together.

Thirdly, many IT teams are familiar with the concept of ‘geek culture,’ which can sometimes carry a stigma of social awkwardness or a lack of interest in interpersonal relationships. IT leaders may find that leading with authenticity can help them bridge this cultural gap and create an inclusive environment for their teams. Leading with authenticity can help IT leaders foster a culture that values both technical expertise and interpersonal relationships, fostering a collaborative environment that leverages the best of both worlds.

Challenges of leading with authenticity

While leading with authenticity has many benefits, it can also present some challenges. Here are a few challenges that you may encounter:

Imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome is the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved. This phenomenon is common among many successful people, regardless of their profession or field. Imposter syndrome can be particularly challenging for authentic leaders, as they may struggle with self-doubt and uncertainty in their abilities, despite their successes or achievements. This can impact their confidence and ability to assert themselves as a leader, particularly when challenges or difficult decisions arise. It is important for authentic leaders to recognize that self-doubt and vulnerability are a normal part of the leadership journey and that every leader will experience moments of uncertainty.

Misalignment in values

Authenticity requires that a leader’s actions are aligned with their beliefs and values. Sometimes, a leader may find themselves in a situation where their values are not aligned with the organization’s or team’s values. This can become a source of conflict for an authentic leader. In these cases, it’s essential for the leader to evaluate the situation and determine whether they can operate effectively within the existing values framework or if it’s time to assess whether their personal values are aligned with the organization’s broader objectives.

Fear of being misunderstood

Authenticity can involve a level of vulnerability that may make a leader fearful of being misunderstood or misinterpreted by their team. This fear may prevent them from fully embracing authenticity in their leadership style. In these cases, it’s important for the leader to remember that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but rather a way to build trust and connections with their team.

Perception and judgment

Leading with authenticity can open a leader up to judgment based on their beliefs and values. Some organizations or teams may not be accustomed to leaders leading in this way, and their authenticity may be misinterpreted as a lack of focus, weakness, or deviation from the organization’s core objectives. It is important for authentic leaders to find ways to demonstrate the value and impact of their leadership approach and to help their teams and organizations understand that leading with authenticity can drive even greater success.

Leading with Authenticity in the IT Leadership Journey

Being an authentic leader is a journey that involves introspection, self-awareness, and a commitment to continuous growth and learning. Here are some recommendations to help you lead with authenticity along this journey:

Know and understand yourself

This involves developing self-awareness of your core values, beliefs, and purpose. Take time for introspection and reflection to understand what drives and inspires you. What are the principles that you define as important? What behaviors and actions are congruent with these principles? This may involve some soul-searching and exploring different perspectives from books, other leaders, coaches, or mentors. Being comfortable and confident with who you are as a leader provides a solid foundation for your authentic leadership style.

Identify your leadership philosophy

Reflect on your leadership philosophy and the specific leadership traits, behaviors, and approaches that you value. Consider what makes a good leader to you and how you want to embody those traits in your own leadership. This may evolve over time as you gain more experience and have opportunities to learn from different leaders.

Identify the leadership traits you value: Do you value approachability? Collaboration? Openness? Then try to base your leadership style on those traits. You might consider writing these traits and behaviors down and displaying them somewhere where you can easily reference them.

Be confident in your expertise and embrace your weaknesses

IT leadership can involve many domains and areas of expertise. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses and embrace them. Have confidence in your expertise in some areas and be transparent about your limitations in others. No one expects a leader to be an expert in every domain. Leading with authenticity means you aren’t afraid to admit when you don’t have all the answers and that you rely on your team members’ expertise to navigate specific challenges. This will help build more trust and stronger relationships with your team members.

Create a supportive environment for your team

As an authentic leader, you want to create an environment where your team members feel comfortable being their authentic selves. This involves fostering psychological safety, promoting mutual respect, and creating an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. Encourage open and honest communication without fear of judgment or retribution. Recognize that your team members also have their own core values and beliefs that drive their work and behaviors. Understanding and appreciating these differences can help create a more cohesive and collaborative team environment.

Continuously evolve and adapt

Authenticity does not mean that you are static or don’t evolve and change over time. Recognize that you and your team will grow and change, and that your beliefs and values may also evolve. Encourage self-reflection and feedback within your team to promote personal and collective growth.

Servants heart

Leading with authenticity requires a servant’s heart. Embrace this by putting the needs of your team and the organization first. Focus on the initiatives and outcomes that will have the biggest impact on your organization and embrace the vulnerability that comes with putting others first. A servant leader knows that their primary function is to support their followers and ensure that they have the tools and resources needed to be successful.

Be transparent and honest

Transparency and honesty are critical components of authenticity. This means being open and honest about your decisions and actions and encouraging your team to do the same. It also mean recognizing when you don’t have all the answers or when you make mistakes. Transparency and honesty can help build trust with your team, even when things are uncertain or challenging.

Give back to others

Leading with authenticity often involves giving back to others, whether through mentorship, sponsorship, or other supportive actions. Look for opportunities to help others grow and develop and to help them achieve their goals. This aligns with the concept of servant leadership and demonstrates that you’re focused on the broader team and organizational goals rather than solely personal achievements.

Manage your energy

Last but not least, remember that leadership can be demanding. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally to sustain your energy and resilience. Leading with authenticity requires a consistent and sustained effort to be your best self and to support your team in being their best selves. Make self-care a priority so that you can show up as your authentic self each day.

Bring your whole self to work

Bring your whole self to work, including your values, personality, and passions. This helps your employees get to know you better and allows them to be more comfortable bringing their whole selves to work too. When you show up authentically, you give permission for others to do the same.

This article has explored what it means to lead with authenticity and why it is essential in IT leadership. It has also explored some of the challenges that can arise and provided some guidance on how to lead from an authentic perspective along your leadership journey. Remember that authenticity takes time to cultivate and that leadership is a journey that evolves over time. Continue to reflect, grow, and learn, and you will gradually become a more authentic leader.