OCTOBER 18, 2024
Laura Famularo: President, Co-Founder at Famular LLC
Remaining buoyant and thriving, especially in disruptive times, requires a blend of inner strength, adaptability, and conscious intention. There may be some of us who wish we could roll over, wake up, and shake off many of the demands as if from a bad nightmare. Yet, for those in leadership positions, the current reality is undeniably real, and its effects are not ending in the foreseeable future. The challenges have required leaders to work harder, adapt faster, and lead under conditions that are unprecedented in their careers.
It may not seem like the right time to pause and reflect on leadership, given the unrelenting pace and constant demands. However, this might be precisely the moment to do so. After extended periods of intense stress, strategic and intentional recovery is crucial. Reflection allows leaders to recalibrate and renew their energy and purpose.
So, how can one continue leading authentically if they have been cut off from reflection, recovery, and renewal? Are you still leading consistently, aligned with your core Purpose? Or have the constant demands and external pressures begun to erode your authentic leadership approach?
Reconnect with the Tenets of Authentic Leadership
In times like these, when the pressures are high and the stakes even higher, it is essential to return to the basics of leading authentically. Authentic leadership stems from leading with Purpose, aligning actions with deeply held values, and demonstrating integrity. These core tenets provide the foundation for leading with empathy, transparency, and resilience.
Given the long-term nature of these challenges, leaders need to emphasize more than ever leading with empathy, transparency, and alignment to their Purpose or Mission. Authentic leadership isn’t about simply surviving; it’s about sustaining effective leadership over the long term, through adaptation and adoption.
Adaptation and Adoption: Not an Either/Or
In the face of disruption, the most resilient leaders adapt. They understand that flexibility in leadership is not a sign of weakness, but rather a critical strength. However, adaptation without reflection risks becoming reactive and disconnected from one’s core leadership principles.
Here are two critical questions every leader should consider:
1. How have I adapted my leadership approach to lead in this current situation? Leaders must assess how they’ve modified their behaviors, communication styles, and decision-making processes to navigate new conditions. Understanding these shifts can reveal whether changes were made out of necessity or in alignment with a deeper Purpose.
2. What, if any, of these new behaviors do I want to adopt and sustain? Once the immediate crisis subsides, it’s important to reflect on which changes should remain a permanent part of one’s leadership practice. Authentic leadership isn’t rigid; it grows and evolves. Ask yourself: Are the adaptations I’ve made sustainable and true to my Purpose? Have I discovered new ways of leading that better align with my values?
Sustaining authentic leadership requires balancing adaptation with adoption. It’s not enough to merely adjust for survival; intentional leaders carefully choose which of their new approaches to embed into their long-term leadership practice. By staying aligned with their Purpose and reflecting on both their past and future, leaders can emerge stronger, more resilient, and more authentic than before.