Must executives be authentic? This question raised Roland Wichmann-Kopp on his personalityblog (Persönlichkeitsblog) for a controversial discussion. Authenticity at any cost? Or just a moderate starring role? The happy medium seems to be the right one.
At least 94.6% manager named real authenticity for the most important and essential motivation factor for employees in a survey made in 2004. But this survey also showed that it seems to be more important to be authentic in personality than to be authentic in self-expression. Because the how of the rhetorical competence and presentation technique was only mentioned by barely 50 percent.
This leads to another discussion. “leadership and leadership styles”. Especially in the gender diversity discussion questions are raised concerning: Is there actually a female leadership style? And if so, by what are these styles characterized? And how sustainable are they in a male dominated working environment?
The answer again seems to be: yes and no. There are leadership attributes that are more often embodied by women but are not necessarily gender specific. On the other hand some female role models see themselves confronted with another kind of criticism: They don’t behave like a woman (anymore). Or they don’t have children and therefore are not challenged by the situation of reconciling career and family. Another dilemma? Perhaps. But maybe just a temporary dry spell before the next generation enters the labor market. Because following the increasing demand of women in leadership position diversity will find its way.
And honestly in small numbers brilliant role models are already there: our chairwoman of Henkel’s Shareholders’ Committee Simone Bagel-Trah is that kind of role model business women are looking for: she is a company founder, holds a doctorate in microbiology, is youngest chairwoman of a DAX 30 company and she is married and mother of two little children – and beside that, she is a very nice person and unpretentious as the SZ newspaper expressed.
Realness, truth, authenticity or congruency – what ever it is to be a good leader in the end what’s really essential is the diversity of leadership. Do you agree? [DE]
