Authentic Leadership Development Assignment

Running head: LEADERSHIP
Reflection on Authentic Leadership Development
Name of Student
Name of Institution

LEADERSHIP
2
Reflection on Authentic Leadership Development
Leadership can be defined as the action of leading people in a group or an organization.
It may also refer to leadership as being the art that motivates people to act in a particular manner
in order to achieve a certain goal. . The authentic theory of leadership is based on the authenticity
of the leader fostering the development of their followers. The follower in return will contribute
to the attainment of performance that is veritable and sustainable. This discourse is a reflection
on the development of authentic leadership.
Definition of Authenticity
The roots of authenticity are based on the concept of being true to self. As an authentic
leader, this to me means being myself. I also believe that it extends to seeing myself accurately
and being in tune with my basic nature. Within the perspectives of authentic leadership, it is
developed by self-actualization that produces ethical convictions that are strong (Harter, 2002).
Since it is not a fixed state, I believe it also extends to attaining and achieving levels of sincerity
and commitment when relating to other people.
Development Components
Psychological capital that is positive- Authentic leadership is developed by possessing
the psychological qualities of hope, confidence, resiliency and optimism. These qualities are
heightened in the authentic leader against the background of positive organizational contexts. As
a leader, positive development is manifested in self-awareness and behavior that is self-regulated
(Avolio & Gardner, 2005, p. 322). Since these psychological qualities are open to change and
development, the authentic leader can help to develop people, teams and organizations to
flourish.

LEADERSHIP
3
Positive morality- An authentic leader should possess moral values that draw upon
reserves of courage and resiliency. This is important in addressing issues that are ethical in
nature. I also believe that it extends to sustaining and achieving authentic actions which are
moral. Positive perspectives of morality are also important for the authentic leader when making
decisions that transparent. This calls for the development of moral capacity for the leader.
Leader self-awareness- The authentic leader should be cognizant of their existence in the
context of time and temporality. It incorporates understanding their strengths, beliefs and sense
of purpose. As an authentic leader, I should be aware of my capabilities, knowledge and
experiences (Luthans & Avolio, 2003). Three important elements that the authentic leader should
posses include: cognitions of identity, goals, values, and emotions. An effective authentic leader
nurtures and develops these elements of self-awareness.
Self-regulation by the leader- The authentic leader should be able to align their values
with the intentions and actions that they take. This involves self-control that is three pronged:
setting standards which are internal, identifying the chasm between the ideal standards and actual
outcomes and reconciling the two. Self-regulation is developed through transparency, behavior
that is authentic and balanced internal processing that is unbiased.
Leadership behaviors- One way in which the authentic leader attracts followers is
leading by example through actions that demonstrate confidence, hope, optimism and
transparency in making decisions (Avolio & Gardner, 2005, p. 325). I agree with the postulation
that followers are developed by the behavior of the authentic leader that supports self-
determination through modeling. Social exchanges that are positive and emotional contagion
developed by the leader are also important influence processes in attracting followers.