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Authenticity: A lesson in Mindful Leadership
June 30th, 2011
Authenticity is the capacity to live in accordance with your values and beliefs. It is a natural outcome when you are mindful—because you are clear about what drives and motivates you. Further, you are clear about how those motivations may take you away from the moment, cause harm to another, or drive something less than positive action.
To strengthen this gift, identify an area where you are out of alignment with what’s most important to you. Ask yourself these questions (as identified by Peter Block in The Answer to How is “Yes“):
- What refusal have you been postponing? To what do you need to say “no” to live more in accordance with your values and what’s important? According to Block, “if we cannot say no, then our yes means nothing.”
- What commitment are you willing to make? This is your choice about the investment you are willing to put forth.
- What price are you willing to pay? What’s your personal stake?
- What are your contributions to the situation at hand?
What do you want to create with others based on your responses above? This is the action question. It focuses you on the interdependencies between you and others, you and the system, and you and the greater whole. It helps move you from ego-driven action to compassionate change.