by Bill George

Authentic leaders genuinely desire to serve others through their leadership. They are more interested in empowering the people they lead to make a difference than they are in power, money, or prestige for themselves.

They are as guided by qualities of the heart, by passion and compassion, as they are by qualities of the mind.

Authentic leaders are not born that way. Many people have natural leadership gifts, but they have to develop them fully to become outstanding leaders. Authentic leaders use their natural abilities, but they also recognize their shortcomings and work hard to overcome them. They lead with purpose, meaning, and values. They build enduring relationships with people. Others follow them because they know where they stand. They are consistent and self-disciplined. When their principles are tested, they refuse to compromise. Authentic leaders are dedicated to developing themselves because they know that becoming a leader takes a lifetime of personal growth.

Reference: George, W. (2003). Authentic leadership: rediscovering the secrets to creating lasting value. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Reprinted with permission from the OSU Leadership Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, (614) 292-3114, http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu.

Are you an authentic leader?

If yes, congratulations.

If no, what will you do to increase your authenticity?

Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer

If you want to read a book on perseverance, training and making your goals, check out Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox. At age 14, she swam twenty-six miles from Catalina Island to the California mainland. At ages fifteen and sixteen, she broke the men's and women's world records for swimming the English Channel. In 1987, she swam the Bering Strait from America to the Soviet Union - a feat that, according to Gorbachev, helped diminish tensions between Russia and the United States. Her description of swimming is colorful and detailed.

Check it out at Amazon.com -- Swimming to Antartica -- Tales of a Long Distance Swimmer.

Thank you, Tina C., for recommending this book.

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