Main Point #1: Devote 80% of your leadership development focusing on uncovering your unique truth; it’s what’s in your control and what will allow you to effectively influence everything else.

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At the core of my framework for authentic leadership is your individual truth. While this sounds simple, and whether you chose an active or passive role, this will be a lifelong journey to make meaning of it. Your truth will likely shift—or at least it may appear to do so. What you believe to be truth, may upon closer introspection, be a defense mechanism meant to protect an old wound or an insecurity. We each have them. It’s the idea of putting on a mask, whether consciously or unconsciously, to make someone see you in a controlled way. It’s an entrepreneur walking with swagger to the mantra “fake it until you make it” or the employee with a smile and blank eyes shielding tragic family loss. It’s the politician that says whatever is necessary to each group of people to win support and obtain power. It’s the avoidance to look within, and instead, just watch tv.

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In a world often filled with threat, these layers may serve a purpose. The utility of unconscious defensive behavior patterns remain contingent on survival context. For conscious deceptive choices, the debate still goes on as to whether the ends justify the means. While I withhold judgment here, I know what feels right for me and seek to bring more patterns into consciousness.

I posit that by becoming more aware of these patterns and digging into your truth—both on an analytical level and in your emotions, you will be given more choices. Additionally, by being more aware of your feelings, which current neuroscience suggests fire before rational thoughts, you become consciously grounded in what drives you.

As an analogy, let's use AI and compare it to our brain. In the current application of AI, a computer will not figure anything out until it is given an objective--such as optimize my budget so I can retire in 20 years. Similarly, your emotions trigger an objective that your rational thought then executes--whether consciously or unconsciously. Awareness of these emotions and unconscious thoughts and behaviors opens up choice.

When you become more grounded with more choice, you become a more powerful and effective leader. People notice your presence. People feel your pull. You lead from your gravitational center with conviction and purpose—walking through your life knowing that if you die tomorrow—you served to the best of your ability—your truth. There’s calmness in that.

But to get there—it takes work. Some do it through yoga, painting, or music. Counseling—whether individual or group—can be very helpful. Marital arts or lifting weights might help. Writing is a strong way to activate that voice. Spirituality or religion may serve this purpose. Meditation and mindfulness is very helpful. You get the point. There are many paths. You chose, but do the work to excavate to the core, stable truth that I believe each of us has. As you get closer to feeling more love towards yourself and others—not lodged in ego, but rather in softness—you will know you are going the right way. Keep digging.