Authenticity

Authenticity.  Before defining authentic leadership, it is important to understand the meaning behind authenticity. According to Gardner et al. (2005), authenticity “can be defined by as owning one’s personal experiences (values, thoughts, emotions and beliefs) and acting in accordance with one’s true self (expressing what you believe and behaving accordingly)" (pp. 344-345). This concept of authenticity creates the situation for a leader to be true to oneself, meaning that a leader’s actions would typically follow a particular pattern with similar situations. Authenticity is not an absolute, but rather a process “whereby leaders and followers experience growth by becoming more authentic” (Ericksion, 1995, as cited by Gardner et al., 2005, p. 345). In other words, school leaders and group members are constantly working towards more honest and consistent interactions between themselves and others. According to Starratt (2004) authenticity can only be achieved within a group dynamic. It is through these interactions with others that an individual is able to dialogue with others, which allows the individual to evaluate their actions and beliefs against others. These interactions create patterns that one is able to use in order to determine where one stands in the structure of the world.