Do you remember the classic rock song by The Who, Who Are You?

It is truly one of my favorites! Little did I know when I first heard this song in 1978 that I would ponder the importance of this question almost 40 years later.

I returned from facilitating a leadership boot camp with Dr. Dorothy Bonvillain for the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce. We talked about the importance of leadership authenticity and vulnerability, which of course, begins with self-awareness and a ton of bravery.

We tell the truth to ourselves when we acknowledge our own imperfections. As we move through our journey, “to deny imperfections is to deny our humanity and to become disconnected from our soul.”1

Accepting our imperfections and taking the introspective, reflective journey, we travel to our core and find our authentic leader within.

As always, I love hearing what you have to say. What do you suppose keeps us from our vulnerability and authenticity as leaders?

With love,

Maria

1. Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal, Leading with Soul, p. 67.