In a recent article, Tanner Wortham talked about the need for unpolished leaders and leadership. In it he listed attributes of unpolished leaders and one of them was –

It’s our leaders’ ability to be true to themselves but also adapts their style to fit the person or circumstance. Let’s call it elastic authenticity.

It made me think about authenticity in a new way. I’ve always tried to amplify my principles in my leadership. And it’s led me to think of it in binary terms.

Either I’m authentic, or I’m not.
Either I’m principled, or I’m not.
Either I’m walking my talk, or I’m not.
Either I’m full of S**T, or I’m not.

You get the idea…

But Tanner’s thought made me reconsider my views on authenticity. To begin changing my mental models to be less binary. Instead, take the view that my principles and values as a set of guardrails. Guardrails that allow me some flexibility to be authentic, but not be so entrenched that I feel it’s my way or the highway.

Some things I might start flexing or stretching on include—

Flex points

Increasing my empathy. Putting on the mind of others as elastically as I can.
Increasing my elasticity when considering organizational and individual maturity.
Thoughtfully realizing where folks are coming from? And elastically meeting them there.
Time-based deferral; that is, allowing some things to grow, evolve, or emerge. Think of this as elastic patience.
Elastically showing the system to itself…then being patient with the evolution of the system.
Modeling the way; this is the walk my talk dimension. But elastically not pushing my walk on others…

Wrapping Up

But the other point for my improved elasticity is in dealing with myself. From the inside-out.

Realizing that I’m imperfect and that I’ll always make mistakes. But increasing the elasticity I put forth in my own self-care, self-confidence, and self-awareness.

Seeing much more of the gray areas in my interactions. To become, as Tanner puts it, more unpolished as a leader, coach, and consultant.

Thanks, Tanner, for the thought-provoking article.

Stay agile my friends,

Bob.