APPENDIX B

Maximizing Authenticity and Skill

AN ABIDING THEME OF THIS BOOK is that effective leadership is about both authenticity and skill. We have observed some aspiring leaders who never quite manage this combination. Consider the simple matrix in figure B-1; think about where you are now, where you want to get to, and what you need to work on to be there.

In box B, skill and authenticity combine to produce leadership.

In box A, individuals have a strong sense of who they are, what made them, and what they stand for. But they lack the skills to deploy their attributes. They may fail to read contexts, to communicate well, and to see the world through the eyes of potential followers.

FIGURE B-1

Balancing authenticity and skill

In box C, ...

Get Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? NEW PREFACE now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.