From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Authentic leadership

From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Authentic leadership

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- Authentic leadership is something that we can all learn. Administrative support professionals are uniquely positioned, as we are continually nurturing relationships with those we support, those we work alongside, and those we serve, such as the general public, and our respective customers. Doing this excellently is also something that really does come second nature to us, as we are always representing those we report to. Therefore, we want to do everything with excellence. We can exhibit and develop these qualities by focusing on the broad range of principles that authentic leaders exhibit. Here are some common traits of authentic leaders. First, they are not focused on perfection, but rather reach for excellence in all that they do. They know that things can often go wrong, or differently, than they plan when doing support work. Having this as a foundation, an authentic leader goes above and beyond the call of duty and is ready for the unexpected. They tend not to get rattled when things go wrong, but instead look for alternative solutions to whatever situation may arise. Next, they ask for input and advice. They are open to feedback and suggestions. Administrative support professionals often need to consult a variety of people in the course of their day. We rely on others to get our job done. When we are leading in this area, we know how to obtain the information we need from various sources, and ensure our tasks are done well and on time. By approaching work this way, it leaves little chance for things to be missed or errors to occur. Authentic leaders also take care of themselves. They ensure they engage in self-care routines and try to maintain a healthy work-life balance. For many years, this was an area that I neglected in my own life. I knew that if I wanted to live a successful life, both personally and professionally, then I needed to ensure I focused on my health and well-being by making it a priority. I quickly found out that I had more to give others when I was taken care of. It is hard to give out so much of yourself to others that you become depleted and have nothing left for yourself. It is a much better practice to take care of you first. Finally, authentic leaders have their priorities in order and know what is really important. As an administrative support professional, it would be very easy to get bogged down in a great deal of minutiae every day. Yet if we did that, we would miss out on high priority items and the things that are the most important for the people we support and serve. Instead, we need to be focused on the purpose behind the work that we engage in each day. Authentic leadership is something within our grasp. By living out our values and beliefs daily, regardless of what environment we find ourselves in, we stay true to our inner self. By adopting some of the traits explored in this video, we are well on our way to leading more authentically.

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