The term authentic leader is used frequently these days. Authentic leadership is essentially about being the person that you really are rather than the person that you believe you should be because of the title or role you have. It is also about understanding and leading in line with your core values. Leaders who are authentic have certain characteristics. So what are the 6 key characteristics of authentic leaders?

Characteristic 1: Great communicators

Authentic leaders are great communicators. Great communication involves writing, speaking and listening. Most leaders are skilled at writing and speaking. Fewer are really skilled when it comes to listening. Listening has 3 main levels. At the first level, leaders are really passively listening. By that I mean they are listening and at the same time thinking about what they are going to say next. At the second level leaders are totally focusing on the other person and what they are saying. The leader is interpreting with the interests of the other person as their focal point. At the third and highest level the leader is listening not just to what is being said but also to the non verbal signals. Authentic leaders operate at level 2 and 3 the majority of the time. Where do you operate most of the time?

Characteristic 2: Know what they stand for

Authentic leaders are clear on what their own personal values are, what they stand for as a leader, what they want to create as a leader and what they can be relied on for. These leaders don't just know what their values are, they live by them. They use them as a reference point when it comes to making key decisions and making key choices.

Characteristic 3: Inspirational

Leaders need to get people on board to deliver the results. To do this they need to inspire others to support them to deliver on areas such as strategy, change projects, people development, financial management and business development. Inspiring others is more than just word. It is about demonstrating that you can be relied upon, trusted, are genuinely interested in others and their success to name just a few.

Characteristic 4: Leads and is part of the team

Authentic leaders recognize that there will be times when they need to lead, for example when there is crisis and decisions need to be made quickly. At other times they need to be part of the team, for example when there are others in the team who are just the most appropriate to lead because they have the expertise.

Characteristic 5: Asks for and gives 100%

Being authentic is not being a soft touch. Authentic leaders ask for 100% from those that they lead and at the same time give 100% personally to achieving and delivering results. They work hard and are highly committed to delivering the results for their organization and to helping others prosper.

Characteristic 6: Visionary

Authentic leaders are visionary. They have clarity about what they want to achieve, they have the foresight and creativity to create a vision for the future and get others to help them to deliver on the vision.

Bottom line- Authentic leadership is not about an easy touch but being clear on what you stand for and using this as the basis for being a highly effective leader. So what characteristic could you start to develop to make you a more authentic leader?