From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

Authenticity and Appropriate Action

Reflecting on the story of Ferose and that difficult day at SAP Labs India, we see a number of challenges that he addressed deftly by acting wisely. He needed to shift his perspective on several levels to determine the appropriate actions for dealing with the deceased employee’s family and work team, as well as the right actions for SAP Labs India in both the short and long terms. Ferose needed to act authentically by remaining true to himself and leading appropriately in an entirely new context.

The dictionary definition of authentic is “not false; true to one’s personality, spirit, or character.” Authenticity means “the quality or condition of being trustworthy, genuine, credible.”³ In studying the lives ...