Authentic Leadership: Learning to Connect

BJ McCabe

BJ McCabe

Storyteller and Organizational Speaker

This session will help you:

• Discover your unique leadership strengths.

• Expand your self-perceptions to unlock your leadership potential.

• Learn leadership skills that will benefit you in both your personal and professional life.

• Make a lasting impact.

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What is Authentic Leadership?

Leadership styles

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• Authoritarian: Leadership power emanates from their title and position in the organization.

• Authentic: People identify with them, admire what they stand for, are apt to trust them and choose to follow.

Defining Authentic Leadership

• Authentic leaders act in accordance with personal values and convictions to build credibility and win the respect and trust of their team.

• By encouraging diverse viewpoints and building networks of collaborative relationships with team members, they lead in a manner that followers perceive and describe as authentic.

• Authentic leaders desire to understand theirown leadership style so that they can continue to improve and succeed.

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Authentic leaders…

• Demonstrate integrity - they consciously pursue the greater good.

• Form connections through effectivecommunication.

• Support and empower others by removing obstacles to success.

• Champion ideas and goals that create value for all stakeholders.

• Continually evolve through relationships with peers and followers.

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Exercise 1Identifying authentic leadership traits

Exercise 1

• Take a look at the ‘Authentic Leadership Attributes” handout.

• Break into groups of 3-5 people.

• As a group, choose the four authentic leadership attributes that you think are most important for Foresters leaders to exemplify.

• Be prepared to defend your choices!

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Authentic Leadership Attributes

1. Communication skills

2. Humility

3. Supportive

4. Positive Attitude

5. Integrity

6. Mentor

7. Dedicated to Personal Development

8. Relationship Builder

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Discussion

• How did your group choose the cards?

• How did each participant play a role in the final decision?

• What authentic leadership traits did the team exemplify?

• What worked well?

• Were there any challenges? How did the group handle these?

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Authentic LeadersSpotlight on Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg

• Award-winning film director/producer.

• Winner of 3 Academy Awards.

• Directed 12 actors in Oscar-nominated performances.

• Co-founder of production company, Amblin Entertainment and studio, Dreamworks.

• Mentor for renown filmmakers.

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J.J. Abrams & Steven Spielberg

Peter Jackson & Steven Spielberg

“His love of movies and desire to collaborate extends far beyond those projects that he is required to work on.” – J.J. Abrams

George Lucas & Steven Spielberg

Spielberg in action

Spielberg – an authentic leader

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“The one ingredient I bring to all of my films is the ability to listen to anybody who has a good idea on the production.

I'm very collaborative…from a very young age my parents taught me probably the most

valuable lesson of my life - sometimes it's better not to talk, but to listen.”

– Steven Spielberg

Exercise 2

Reflecting on your authentic leadership skills

Exercise 2

• What famous movie/TV character do you most identify with or admire, and why?

–Select a character that you admire.

–Pinpoint the traits that you respect.

–How do you identify with that character?

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Be the lead character in your own life!

• Why did you chose that character?

• What leadership traits do you have in common?

• Which characteristics are different?

• Does your choice of character relate to qualities that you identified on your list?

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Exercise 3

Discovering the authentic leader within you - leadership practice

Case Study

• Read the case study “Discovering the Authentic Leader in You”.

• Break off into your groups (3-5 people)

• Collaboratively, create your group’s top 5 list of actions that Shannon can take to strengthen her authentic leadership skills.

• Use the “Authentic Leadership in Action” checklist to help you.

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Daily Leadership Practice

• The most important part to leading authentically is self-reflection!

• To strengthen your personal leadership skills, practicing these actions will take your authentic leadership to the next level.

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Reel TriviaGames and prizes!

Reel Trivia - Questions

1. Which actress in the Color Purple has her own television network and exemplifies authentic leadership?

2. Which Back to the Future actor has become a champion for finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease?

3. Which political leader did Spielberg make a biopic of?

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Reel Trivia - Questions

4. Which E.T. actress has now tried her hand at directing?

5. Which President of the United States does Anthony Hopkins portray in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama ‘Amistad’?

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