People don’t want a pretend performance, they want authenticity!  Customers and followers don’t want organizational pretense, they want something or someone of substance.  If pretend was all they wanted they would go to the movies.

The world is full of distrust toward institutions and leadership, and authenticity is the antidote.  Face it, at some point you are going to have to take off the tuxedo and everyone will see what’s underneath.  Authentic leaders will ensure they are genuinely prepared and humble enough to do the heavy lifting their position requires.  Talk is cheap, but your actions are valuable.

People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.  They want to be part of something real.  If you’re leading from a position that turns out not to be true then you will eventually be found out, and everything comes crashing down.  In the words of pastor/speaker Craig Groeschel “people want to follow a leader who is real than a leader who is always right”.  Read more at Don’t Be Fake.

Do the hard stuff and identify one area in your leadership where you’ve been relying on status or appearances, and replace it with clear, direct, authentic action.