Quotes about Authentic Leadership

Obama won the presidency by running the first integrated three-screen campaign - reaching people directly via Internet, cell phones, and TV - with an authentic, complex style that resonated for voters sick of dark, deceitful, and divisive politics.

President George W. Bush won reelection in 2004 largely because he was seen as comfortable in his own skin, while rival John Kerry was viewed as a flip-flopping opportunist.

I generally think that I should only speak by action and not by words.

As a coach or manager, if it was something that had to be done I'd be comfortable doing it but I'd still be true to myself. I wouldn't turn into a madman or start throwing teacups and screaming.

The captains in Tier One were not poseurs. They didn't make speeches, didn't seek attention or acclaim, and were not comfortable wearing the cloak of power. Most of them took subservient roles and carried water for their teammates. In other words, they behaved precisely the way Gruenfeld describes. They won status by doing everything in their power to suggest they didn't deserve it.

The only thing worse than a coach or CEO who doesn't care about his people is one who pretends to care. People can spot a phony every time.

Healthy people who do not have a need to control anyone make the best leaders.

Genuine, authentic leadership infuses meaning into your life, because you know that your efforts count and that you are serving the needs of others as well as your own.

Authentic leadership shows up whenever someone facilitates and stimulates collective change for the good of the whole.

Don't use fancy words to make things sound better than they are or try to impress people. Build your breakthrough objectives using straight, clear, everyday language that your employees will understand.

If the Governor speaks of ideals, they are "selfless ideals"; if he speaks of paths to be taken, they are "untrod paths." The Governor is one who leaves no cliché unturned

I know that I'll end up being a role model for many, many people out there for all kinds of reasons.

I don't love being Leader of the Green Party. It is not really something I'd recommend to a good friend. It's not fun.

Concerned we're in a time where politicians can't even fake sincerity. Aren't they supposed to be good at that?

I'm me. I'm just out there being myself. I like having fun. But at the same time, I bring everybody together. So I'm really -- or I try to be -- like the glue of the team.

A leader should never try to be all things to all people. A leader should be content to be what he or she is. Leaders must have the strength to know what they cannot be if they are to have the courage to be themselves.

Who rules here?' I asked. They said: 'The People naturally.' I said: 'Naturally the people but who really rules?

Great leaders, like great actors, must be confident, energetic, empathetic, inspirational, credible, and authentic.

The idea was watch what I do, not what I say.

I guess when you're holding the creative reins, you can be across everything, and it's more authentic. You can control it.

I feel like, if the guys can look at me in the huddle and see a calm and collected face, that they're going to relax a little bit. The way I look at it, leadership and being that guy is, don't be someone you're not. Don't be a hoorah guy jumping around and clapping your hands if you're not that guy.

As a leader, you need to care deeply, deeply about your people while not worrying or really even caring about what they think about you. Managing by trying to be liked is the path to ruin.

One of the worst things you can give to your people is someone you're not.

The worst thing you can do in a leadership position is be something you're not.