I was at a seminar the other day and I had lunch with a CEO I met. He was a blunt guy and very direct. I appreciate people who are willing to give direct feedback, whether or not I agree with them.
He said to me, “Jeff — your work on authentic leadership is good. But you’re contradicting human nature. In my experience being on this planet for more than 60 years, most people are evil, have a hidden agenda, are looking to con others, and only care about money. Your work is really only going to resonate with a small number of people.”
To a large degree, he’s right. A lot of people have a hidden agenda and don’t have other people’s best interests at heart. Many people won’t resonate with this. In fact, that’s the reason why I became so interested in authentic leadership, to begin with. I realized there is a dire need for more authenticity in the workplace in a way that can help employees be happier and more successful.
I don’t have my head in the sand. I’m aware that some people think authentic leadership is a joke. The harsh reality is that the norm for many employees at companies is gossip, backstabbing, and self-interest.
Just because something hasn’t been fully accepted yet doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Many decades from now, authentic leadership will be the norm. Authenticity matters.
Jeff Davis is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestseller The Power of Authentic Leadership.
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