Authentic leadership is essential for building workplace trust, engagement, and happiness. In a recent live Q&A session, Jen Smollett, an authenticity and women’s leadership coach, shared some practical tips for female leaders looking to lead with authenticity. Here are five tips that stood out:
- Get clear on your values: Authenticity is about being true to yourself and your values. Take some time to reflect on what matters most to you and how you can align your leadership decisions and actions with your values.
- Challenge upwards: As a middle manager, you may have limited control over decisions. However, Jen suggests challenging upwards as much as possible while still delivering the message with compassion and generosity, aligned with your values.
- Build emotional resilience: Jen uses the analogy of an elastic band to illustrate it. Put yourself in challenging situations to stretch your elastic band, and give yourself time to relax and release the tension. Building awareness of your emotional and physical states can also help you manage stress and self-doubt.
- Focus on happiness: Seeking happiness in your work can lead to success rather than the other way around. Find ways to help others, whether your customers or your team, and focus on what brings you fulfilment.
- Ask the right questions: Coaching can be a powerful tool for achieving your goals and reaching your full potential. A good coach will ask the right questions to help you uncover your deeper knowledge and find the answers you need.
Leading with authenticity may not always be easy, but it’s worth the effort. By clarifying your values, challenging yourself, building emotional resilience, focusing on happiness, and asking the right questions, you can become a more authentic and effective leader in the workplace.
Enjoyed this conversation? Don’t forget to listen to our Work It Like A Mum podcast episode with Jen here.
Timestamps:
Leading with Authenticity [00:02:00] Jen Smollett explains what it means to lead with authenticity and why it is important in the professional landscape. She emphasises the importance of consistency and using values as a moral compass.
Managing Authenticity in Middle Management [00:05:30] Jen Smollett discusses how middle managers can still be authentic even when they don’t necessarily agree with decisions made by higher-ups. She suggests challenging upward and delivering decisions with compassion and generosity.
Strategies for Managing Self-Doubt and Stress [00:07:27] Jen Smollett provides strategies for managing self-doubt and stress, particularly for female leaders. She recommends clarifying who you want to be as a manager and acknowledging self-doubt while focusing on your values.
Leading with Authenticity [00:09:18] Jen Smollett discusses the importance of being true to oneself in the workplace and strategies for managing self-doubt and stress as a female leader.
Building Resilience [00:10:20] Jen Smollett explains resilience as an elastic band and shares practical ways to foster it in the face of adversity or setbacks.
Recommended Resources [00:16:16] Jen Smollett recommends Brene Brown’s book “Dare to Lead” and her podcast as helpful resources for strengthening leadership skills.
Books recommendations [00:17:26 – 00:19:08] Jen Smollett recommends books by Brené Brown, Dr Tasha Uric, and Suzanne David for personal and professional growth.
Importance of authenticity in leadership [00:19:27 – 00:21:54] Jen Smollett and Elizabeth Willetts discuss the importance of authenticity in leadership and the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Happiness and success [00:22:22 – 00:25:12] Jen Smollett and Elizabeth discuss the relationship between happiness and success and the importance of self-reflection and seeking external support for personal growth.
Coaching vs Therapy [00:26:02] Jen Smollett explains the differences between coaching and therapy and why it’s important not to confuse the two.
The Power of Coaching [00:26:56] Jen Smollett discusses the benefits of coaching, including how it can help individuals go deeper and find the answers they need to achieve their goals.
How to Connect with Jen Smollett [00:28:29] Jen Smollett shares her website, email address, and LinkedIn profile and invites viewers to book a no-pressure call to discuss coaching.
Show Links:
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