Authentic Leadership - find and be the unique leader in you by Bela Labovitch

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Discover Your Authentic Leadership Style: A Conversation with Bella Lebovich

Recently, we had the privilege of hosting an inspiring session with Bella Lebovich, Vice President Engineering at Athena House. Bella has occupied distinct positions in her career, from Chief Technology Officer to developer, in various workplaces including startups and major enterprises. Bella possesses a burning passion for attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce and elevating them to leadership positions. In this session she shares her expertise and wisdom on authentic leadership.

Authentic Leadership Defined

Authentic leadership is a concept that sprang up from the business world in 2003, put forth by Bill George in his book on the same. George posited that the key to success for leaders lay in being their authentic selves. Authentic leaders demonstrate self-awareness, deep-rooted values, and passions that allow them to lead genuinely and empathetically.

Bella cited the examples of Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks and Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, as authentic leaders. She highlighted their keen self-awareness, understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to authentically and empathetically relate to their individual struggles and journeys.

Characteristics of Authentic Leaders

During her talk, Bella listed five key attributes that define an authentic leader:

  1. Sense of Purpose and Passion: Authentic leaders are driven by a clear purpose and passion which often guide their actions.
  2. Understand Their Values: They are cognizant of their values and adhere to them consistently in their leadership roles.
  3. Relationship Builders: They cultivate strong relationships by viewing their teammates, customers, and stakeholders as individuals and connecting with them on that level.
  4. Goal Oriented: Authentic leaders understand their personal and work goals, maintain a balance between them, and pursue them with self-discipline.
  5. Genuine Heart: They display genuine empathy, which Bella insists is the most crucial leadership trait today.

The Importance of Empathy in Leadership

Bella emphasized the role of empathy in leadership, especially in the current global situation marked by pandemic effects, climate crises, wars, and looming global recession. Being able to understand where a person is coming from, their perspective, and future ambitions is key in these times.

A Homework for the Audience

Bella ended the session by giving her audience a task to help discover their own leadership style. She encouraged them to reflect on their values, life journey, purpose, and how they're seen by others. By understanding and embracing these facets of their personality, they would be on their way to becoming authentic leaders.

Conclusion

Bella strongly advocates for authentic leadership as the pathway to attract and retain diverse teams and achieve the best business outcomes. It is this authenticity that engenders trust and commitment from those they lead. Bella concluded the session by urging everyone to discover their unique leadership qualities and to make a difference in their lives and those of others.

Do you have follow-up questions or want to share your experiences in leadership? Connect with Bella Lebovich via her email or LinkedIn, and she would be more than happy to engage with you.


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