
27/03/2025
Authentic leadership is often described as leading with integrity, self-awareness, and transparency
- but how personal should leadership really be? Where do we draw the line between being genuine and maintaining professionalism?
At the heart of authentic leadership lies emotional intelligence:
- Self-awareness – Recognizing and understanding your emotions before acting on them.
- Emotional regulation – Expressing emotions in a way that fosters trust, not tension.
- Empathy – Connecting with others while ensuring your emotions don’t overshadow the message.
Being open about challenges, doubts, or even frustrations can strengthen connections and build trust. But does this mean leaders should share every feeling—including intense emotions like anger or disappointment? Probably not. So, how do leaders express frustration without crossing the line into unprofessionalism?
Authentic leadership is not about being perfect—it’s about being real, thoughtful, and intentional. It’s about leading with both heart and strategy.
What do you think? How do you balance authenticity and professionalism in leadership?
A special THANK YOU to for supporting this important agenda.
📸 Henri Errol Vares / Nadia Schmidt Larsen