Georgia, thanks for the great post.

There are a group of people in the community that think "Authentic" leadership is what Lead Change should be all about.  They're definition of "Authentic" like Mr. George's, includes many genuine, others-focused, genuinely-good characteristics that are good for leadership.

However, there are others, like me, that think of "Authentic" as a synonym for Integrity or Transparency, true to your core.  (I realize this is a more recent definition than the traditional meaning of the word.)  The problem is some people are authentically poor leaders.  They lack the habits and the skills to do the things that inspire others.  That's why  I stick with character-based.  Authentically poor leaders lose their followers unless they either upgrade their character to inspire others to follow, or fake-it really well for a time.  In the end, unless they upgrade their character, they still lose people unless they have something else to fall back on like their position or their power.  The external force of their position or their power helps them exert influence over others.  Many authentically poor leaders think they're good because they have the power or the position to keep most people energized, but it's not their authenticity that energizes people.

I can agree with Mr. George, you, and our friends who created Authentic Leadership groups because I know your definition of authenticity includes being true to one's best character.  But something in me keeps me "sticking" on the less traditional meaning of the word Authentic.

Mike...