From heroic to authentic leadership

Leadership gives rise to many fantasies, in large part due to the power connected with it.   We more or less consciously tend  to idealize leaders as heroes, that is, exceptional individuals above the fray, impervious to doubt and fear, who know the way  forward and can thus shape the future by leading others to triumph over adversity.

However, the reality is quite different, underlines the author of Better Under Pressure. A leadership recruiting expert at Spencer Stuart, Justin Menkes has studied dozens of CEOs and c-suite executives of top-flight companies to identify what typifies these personalities. His conclusions diverge quite substantially from common preconceptions. Specifically, the best leaders appear to be keenly aware of their own limits, and demonstrate an attitude much closer to humility than to arrogance.

Being conscious of the realities of leadership is essential to avoid common blunders made by even the most brilliant and driven leaders. Indeed, the author of Flying Without a Net points out that ambitious people are often easily blinded by the desire to preserve their successful image at all costs, And the delusion that leaders must be infallible and omniscient merely reinforces this tendency.

- Adopt a lucidly optimistic attitude. Good leaders focus on their vision, while remaining conscious of unpleasant realities.

- Cultivate humility. A decisive factor in the lasting success of leaders is their ability to recognize their limitations and compensate for them.

- Dare to rely on others. Working with others helps leaders personally grow and develop and makes their projects more successful.