Establish Yourself as an Authentic Leader from Day One: Start Strong with This Free Email Template!
Leading authentically can be challenging. What if there was an easy way to establish yourself like that from your first day on the job?
Ever walk into a new leadership role feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to impress and get your team bought in?
You're not alone. But there's a secret weapon to set the right tone and build a thriving development team from day one: demonstrate your Authentic Leadership by sharing your personal manager 101 document.
Authentic leadership isn't just a buzzword—it's a proven strategy to drive results through fostering trust, enhancing productivity, and creating a positive work environment.
Why does authentic leadership matter?
Authentic leaders, as defined by Forbes, are self-aware, genuine and mission driven, focused on the long-term and lead with their heart. Everyone wants a boss like that, right?!?
Research published in the Leadership and Organization Development Journal highlights that employees' perception of authentic leadership significantly influences job satisfaction and overall happiness at work. This approach also cultivates better relationships, higher levels of trust, and increased productivity, as detailed in the Harvard Business Review.
Want a quick and easy way to lead authentically from day one?…
Create a “[Your Name] 101” document to email to your team ahead of your first meeting with them.
I borrowed this great idea from some fantastic managers at Google and have gotten unanimously positive responses from new direct reports (and peers and bosses) when I share my “Jen Stirling 101” document with them.
It instantly:
Lowers their natural anxiety about working with their “new boss”
Has the potential to create a common bond around shared values and/or interests together before your first formal meeting
Gets some of the business keeping and logistics out of the way so your first conversation together can be around what matters most in your work together
To jumpstart authentic connections with your team copy my personal 101 doc as a template or use these topics to create your own 101 doc:
Your “why”: Explain your motivation and approach to leadership.
Management style: Share your guiding principles, such as trust, integrity, and inclusive decision-making.
Personal and professional values: Make clear your values, such as honesty, empathy, and strategic thinking.
Favorite leadership quote: Offer insight into your inspirations. Mine comes from Conan O’Brien: “If you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.”
Approach to communication: Specify preferences for communication styles, modalities and availability.
Work hours and urgent communications: Clarify expectations regarding responsiveness outside of working hours and methods for urgent messages and set the tone for healthy work-life balance.
Career conversations: Encourage career discussions and development.
Balancing opinion and directive: Explain how you distinguish between personal input and directives from you as a manager.
Personality and work style assessments: Share your results from any relevant assessments (i.e. DiSC, Myers-Briggs, Clifton Strengths Finder) and encourage team members to do the same with you.
Personal touch: Consider including a personal photo (like I did here with the photo of my family on vacation) or anecdote of something you love to foster connection.
What else do you share with new direct reports, teammates or bosses? If there is something that I missed in the list above I would love to add your great ideas! Let me know.
You got this!
By embracing authentic leadership and utilizing tools like the personal 101 document, you can establish a strong foundation of trust and collaboration from the outset.
Whether you're new to the role or welcoming new team members, investing in authenticity can pave the way for long-term success for your team and organization.
Ready to lead with authenticity and unlock your team's full fundraising potential?
Contact me for a free coaching consultation and discover how I can help you create a winning leadership strategy.
Jen Stirling
Principal Consultant, Brighter Philanthropy —
Fundraising consulting for higher ed and K-12
As your partner, I’ll bring my considerable expertise, high-energy efficiency, optimistic realism, relational approach, and fresh perspective to guide your team and help your institution reach its goals, enabling more students to thrive. I offer support for campaign services, development organization assessments, staff coaching and board development.
