As a leader, you play a key role in defining company culture and performance. In fact, managers influence 70% of the variance in team engagement, per a study by Gallup, underscoring the powerful influence you have in shaping an innovative and collaborative work environment for your team. To get the formula right, you need the right combination of leadership qualities.
And while great managers must have traditional skills like communication, analytical prowess, and empathy, there’s a new element that has become really key. Authenticity is now a coveted leadership characteristic, with 80% of people managers seeing it as crucial for employee engagement, according to a study by Harvard Business Publishing. To put it simply, being your true self is actually one of the most powerful leadership attributes you can have.
So, how do you find your personal flair as a manager and bring your best self to your team?
Connect with your purpose
For many, choosing to become a manager was a significant and exciting decision. Perhaps you were motivated by ambitious goals like the challenge of building a team or the desire to inspire others to reach their full potential. Whatever your reasons, it’s essential to stay connected to your “why” as a leader.
Managing with purpose not only keeps you energized and driven to achieve more, it also inspires your team to do the same. In fact, 79% of leaders believe purpose is central to success as a manager, per a study by PwC. So, try to continuously reconnect with the passion that initially brought you into this role. It may sound cheesy, but consider writing down the reasons you find fulfillment in your work so that you can reference them on tougher days.
Go with your gut
When you bring your true self to your work, you don’t waste any time trying on management styles that don’t actually fit you – you own the characteristics that make you excel as a leader. This brand of authentic leadership is truly empowering and can have a positive impact on others. Showing your team that you know who you are and what you bring to the table, can inspire them to bring their true selves to their roles as well. That’s why authentic managers drive 20% higher team engagement, according to Gallup.
So as you think about raising your leadership game in 2025, think about all of the attributes that make you great in your real life – maybe your humor, thoughtfulness, or sense of adventure – and find ways to incorporate those characteristics into your role as a leader. For example, if you have a knack for gamification, you could try kicking off your next team meeting with a short game. Once you find what’s working, you can integrate it into other areas until you’ve created a fully gamified workshop. Making small, intentional changes can have a significant impact on your leadership effectiveness, but also on your sense of personal fulfillment.
Expand your skills
Stepping out of your comfort zone is intimidating for everyone, but maybe especially as a leader. It can feel nerve-wracking to try something new in front of your team since there’s always the possibility that it won’t work. But if you continue to do things the way you always have, there’s no platform to grow and evolve your personal leadership style. So, if you’re apprehensive about making a big move to try something new, think about making small stretch goals for yourself instead. Perhaps this means learning a new AI technology and incorporating it modestly into one area of your work. Then once you feel comfortable using it, you can bring your new skill to your team interactions. Regardless, set the standard for your team that learning and development are key at every stage of work to inspire them to continue to expand their skills as well.
Invest in your strengths
While it’s natural to want to improve your shortcomings as a leader, great managers are increasingly finding that more of an impact can be made by focusing on their strengths and investing in making them even stronger. So, take some time to really process what your greatest strengths are and then brainstorm ways to enhance those areas. For example, if you are great at giving engaging presentations, think about joining a public speaking workshop to learn new impactful techniques. Investing in your natural talents maximizes your effectiveness as a leader, according to Science Direct – driving increased confidence, better decision-making, and improved performance.
Be kind to yourself
Being a leader can at times feel really challenging, so first and foremost, cut yourself some slack. On the days when work feels a bit lonely or it seems like you're not able to manage in the way you want, allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you’re feeling. Have self-compassion and give yourself the same support you’d give to a team member on a hard day. As long as you’re bringing your best and true self to work and doing what you can to support and empower your employees, you’re doing it right. Take a breath, and recognize that having these feelings from time to time doesn’t mean you’re any less qualified or effective at your job – it simply means you’re human.
