No one is hired to win a popularity contest—you’re hired to get things done. You’re hired to make things happen, so when you show up to lead a group of people, those people want many things from you. What they don’t necessarily want from you is your authentic self.
What they need from you is inspiration. They need energy, even if you’re not feeling energetic that day. They need guidance. They need information. They need you to behave like a leader. What I tell people is, if you want to be authentic, you can be as authentic as you need or want to be, but you need to be authentic to what the people around you need from you. You don’t need to be authentic to how you’re feeling.
[…]I don’t think you need to bring your whole self to work. I think you need to bring the parts of yourself to work that will help you get the job done.
Author: Jeffrey Pfeffer
Source: McKinsey Quarterly
Subjects: Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior, Personal Development
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