Response to DawnES, “A Light from Many Lamps”

Please see the original post here.

Dawn, first let me say, thank you so much for your post and for your words. I really like how you linked Hamlet and authentic leadership together. Not being an avid reader of Shakespeare, except in High School, I was sucked in by your knowledge of the test as well as the relations to leadership you made.

In my vast life experience (I’m 28, hope you notice the sarcasm), I have noticed that authentic leadership always wins the day. You quote Northouse by saying, “When one embraces an authentic leadership perspective, the benefits to the organization are positive. Studies have shown that followers are able to thrive at work, and have increased creativity, hope, optimism, and trust. They are more strongly engaged, satisfied and committed (Northouse, 2019, pg. 207).”

On the surface, authentic leadership appears easy to define. In actuality, it is a complex process that is difficult to characterize. Among leadership scholars, there is no single accepted definition of authentic leadership (Northouse, 2019, p.197-198).

I’ve always wondered when it comes to authentic leadership: when is it too much? Is there a point where one becomes too authentic where they’re sharing things about themselves that shouldn’t be shared because they interpret that as being “authentic”? That is my struggle right now in my role as an Officer and a pastor in The Salvation Army – you want to say enough to be relatable, however, not so much that you totally lose respect of the people around you and your congregation. I am wondering if there is a happy median?

Thanks so much for your post and I look forward to reading more.

References:

Northouse, P. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.