In staying with the theme of Authentic Leadership, I went back to an authority on the topic I previously quoted in an earlier newsletter, Bill George, the former CEO of Medtronic. In his 2007 book, "True North" he describes in more detail the five dimensions of authentic leadership. They are:

• Pursuing Purpose with Passion - Purpose allows us to keep our egos and narcissistic tendencies in check
• Practicing Solid Values – Values are unique to individual leaders and cannot be dictated by others
• Leading with Heart – Leading with heart and head is the key to successfully influencing followers to embrace you as their leader
• Establishing Enduring Relationships – The enduring nature of crucial relationships support the authentic leader
• Demonstrating Self-Discipline – Discipline is crucial to setting goals and achieving desired results in an ultra-competitive environment

One of the key points that resonate throughout the book is the idea and importance of leading yourself. We find many times we are the most difficult person we have to lead. To the extent we pursue a lifetime of personal development then we are able to heighten our own self-awareness of our values, our attitudes and our behaviors as it relates to being someone who makes authentic leadership a way of life!

Enjoy the Book!