December 2004 - Authenticity

Happy holidays, !

As we begin to look through the holidays into a new year, what better subject to take on than authenticity?  Named over and over as a foundational trait of the most effective leaders, authenticity is also one of the most elusive concepts to define.  With time available to us for consideration and rumination over the holidays, we present this month thinking on being one's self- the hardest easy job we ever have in life or in business.

Please accept our wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

Cordially,

I. Barry Goldberg
Entelechy Partners

Authenticity as a Foundation for Leadership

One might think that an article on authenticity would be redundant.  After all, how hard is it to be ourselves?  Authenticity turns out to be much more about unlearning behaviors and attitudes that we have adopted than changing to be something we are not.  This month's observations draw from a wide range of resources to make the case for leading with Authenticity.

Read the whole story here.

Managing One's Self:  The Wisdom of Peter F. Drucker

Normally in The Leaderboard we eschew writing of the famous names that business people are familiar with in order to focus on not-so-famous yet effective thought leaders.  This month however, we are linking to a not so well known work by one of the most famous business thinkers of our time, Peter F. Drucker.  The link below will take you to a transcript of Dr. Drucker's remarks in 1999 on the subject of Managing One's Self- or being authentic.  the transcript is on the Leaders for Leaders site, formerly the Drucker Foundation and I encourage you to browse around the site.  it is rich with information for leaders of all types.

Read the transcript here

The Leadership Bookshelf:

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Steven Pressfield

If you only saw the movie, you only got half of the story.  Pressfield writes about war and this story, a retelling of the Bhagavad Gita is no exception.  This is a tale of both inner battles and outer and will take you places the film did not even begin to address.  And as for this month's theme, Vance's soliloquy on the authentic swing is as clear a description of the importance of authenticity as any to be found.  You do not have to like golf, but it helps.

Read our review here.

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