Authentic Leadership: Unlocking Your Unique Strengths
December 2024
December 2024
In a world teeming with leadership blueprints, countless books, and expert advice, it’s easy to fall into the trap of mimicking what we are told “good leadership” should look like. While these blueprints offer valuable insights, they often miss one crucial element: authenticity. True leadership isn’t about following a script; it’s about leveraging your innate strengths to lead in a way that feels natural and genuine.
At PXP, we’ve taken a bold step to move beyond generic leadership molds by integrating Strength-Based Assessments into our leadership development initiatives. This approach helps our managers identify and embrace their unique strengths, enabling them to lead authentically and effectively.
Leadership advice is everywhere, from timeless theories to trending methodologies. But in trying to apply these universal formulas, many managers lose touch with who they truly are. They strive to emulate traits that don’t resonate with their personalities, leading to burnout, lack of confidence, and inauthentic relationships with their teams.
This realization prompted us to shift our focus. Instead of asking our managers to fit into predefined leadership models, we asked: What if we could help them discover and amplify the unique strengths they already possess?
Strength-Based Assessments are a cornerstone of our leadership philosophy. These tools provide managers with a deep understanding of their inherent talents—those abilities that come naturally and energize them. By shining a light on these strengths, we empower leaders to:
Lead Naturally: Instead of forcing behaviors that feel unnatural, managers can lean into their strengths, making leadership feel more intuitive and sustainable.
Build Confidence: Recognizing and valuing their innate skills boosts self-assurance, which translates into more effective decision-making and team engagement.
Foster Genuine Relationships: Authentic leaders connect better with their teams, building trust and inspiring loyalty.
Our journey began with comprehensive assessments for all our managers, followed by tailored one-on-one coaching sessions. Managers discovered their top strengths and explored how these strengths influenced their leadership style.
For example:
A manager with a top strength in Relator embraced their talent for building deep, meaningful relationships, creating a culture of trust and collaboration within their team.
Another leader with Strategic as a key strength found new ways to navigate complex challenges, inspiring their team with clear, forward-thinking solutions.
To measure the impact, we conducted surveys with our leadership team, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Here are some highlights:
83% of managers strongly agree that the Strength-Based Assessments helped them increase their self-awareness, and 17% agree it did.
0% reported feeling no improvement, representing an overwhelming consensus on the tool's effectiveness.
What People Are Saying About the Approach
"Learning about how I work and the types of people I collaborate best with, as well as identifying my strengths and areas for improvement."
"Gaining a deeper understanding of my general behavior, not just in the office but in life overall. It's fascinating to see why certain teams or pairs work well together. Recognizing how my strengths can sometimes be a hindrance is also valuable, so I can be mindful of these."
"This was my first time undergoing such an evaluation, and I enjoyed every part of it. What I look forward to the most is seeing my team's strengths. The report is very informative and packed with useful insights."
"I appreciate the team's efforts in creating the final report. Some aspects of myself that I didn't consider strengths turned out to be just that! The feedback was generally very positive, and the way negative feedback was spun to reinforce positive traits was something new and eye-opening for me. It was confidence-inspiring. I also loved the team's enthusiasm for the topic and their insights!"
"It felt like my thoughts and the way I think were put down on paper. It seems very accurate, and knowing these things will help me focus on some of my blind spots. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of my team's results so I can identify areas for improvement if needed."
Moving Forward: A Culture of Authentic Leadership
By focusing on authenticity, we’re not just developing leaders—we’re shaping a culture that values individuality, fosters growth, and celebrates success. As we continue to refine this initiative, our goal is to expand it across all levels of the organization, ensuring that authenticity becomes a hallmark of leadership at PXP.
For anyone seeking to lead authentically, remember: your greatest leadership potential lies within you. By uncovering and embracing your unique strengths, you can inspire your team, drive success, and lead with unwavering authenticity.