Cairns and Caring

While reflecting on his journey, West spoke about the cairns that he encountered on the trail. He associated personally with the cairns, believing that his triumphant expedition could serve as a symbol of determination and encouragement for others when facing a daunting challenge.

West’s miraculous climb up the world’s tallest stand-alone mountain was a fitting embodiment of insights that I took away from a thought leadership summit last week half a world away at a beautiful eco-ranch in the Colorado Rockies.

During the summit, participants were asked to contemplate the concept of authentic leadership. Session facilitator Ingrid Mattsson, Senior Brand Manager at Uponor, outlined the keys to leading authentically:

Insight: blending wisdom with discernment

Initiative: having the courage to lead by example

Influence: displaying contagious vision and values

Impact: making a difference

Integrity: upholding the highest of values

Authentic leadership is about having the discipline to maximize your own potential. If the essence of authenticity is truth, then authentic leadership means being true to yourself.

But authentic leadership isn’t just about one’s own actions or ethics. It’s also about holding the space for others to reflect their own actualized selves, allowing them to enhance their own authenticity and inspiring them to care.

Leadership, like sustainability, is a choice. You’re either a leader or you’re not, and that’s reflected in the difference that you make in the world.

It’s clear that when it comes to creating a sustainable future, any one of us simply can’t do it alone. We need to engender trust and enthusiasm from those around us. The most expedient path to this goal is through authentic leadership—demonstrating passion for our purpose, consistently upholding our values, and leading with our hearts as well as our heads.

How do you define and manifest authentic leadership? Write to me at sara@greenbuildermag.com, follow me on Twitter @SaraGBM.

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