Being a leader doesn’t mean being untouchable. Denis Gianoutsos explains why being authentic is actually the secret to success.
As someone who has been in business for around 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand how leaders are often overwhelmed, disrupted and under immense pressure. They run from email to email, meeting to meeting, and many are not changing quickly enough, risking becoming irrelevant and being left behind.
Let me share the story of an avatar I call David. He was a leader in his late 30s, working 80+ hour weeks, struggling with the prospect of a promotion that would likely increase his workload even further. While he wanted to take the next step, he couldn’t see how he could fit any more into his week. His wife warned him that he was at risk of a heart attack, and he even felt guilty leaving the office at 4 pm to watch his kids swim for an hour, even though he knew he would be working well into the night to make up for it.
Does this sound familiar to you? There are a lot of ‘Davids’ in the world, male and female.
I’ve been in that exact position myself. About 17 years ago, I transitioned from business roles into the HR space, pursuing my passion for leadership development and coaching. I became a global coaching practice lead, travelling the world to work with high-performing teams and individuals.
However, my journey took an unanticipated turn when I developed a tumour on my vocal cord, a critical tool for my work. This experience taught me the importance of self-care and seeking medical attention, something I believe many leaders often neglect. It was a big part of what drove me to step back from corporate life to design a career that worked differently for me.
Regardless of whether I have worked for myself or for big corporate names, I’m still a leadership geek. I love investigating how leaders guide teams, and looking into team dynamics, culture change and resilience. I am fascinated by strategy arond where an organisation is going and helping leaders to think it all through. A lot of my skills in guiding leaders comes from my realisation many years ago that I could be the leader I wanted to be, not the one I had previously thought I should be.
This is the key message I want to share with you— the importance of being the leader you want to be, rather than trying to be someone you’re not.
A title doesn’t make you a leader; it’s your values, principles and actions that define your leadership.
So, how can you become the leader you want to be?
First, reflect on who you are as a person. Your identity is not tied to your role or title.
Next, look at examples. Are there leaders you admire, either from your past or the people who are currently around you? Consider which qualities you’d like to emulate, but don’t simply copy them… add your own spin.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, if you want to be an impactful leader, you need to focus on personal development. In a rapidly changing world, standing still means falling behind and being a leader doesn’t mean your learning has come to an end. Explore options like further education, reading (including audiobooks and executive summaries), listening to podcasts, and finding a coach or mentor who can listen without judgement and provide an outsider’s perspective.
The key to real stamina as a leader is staying true to your values and principles while constantly striving to improve and adapt. By embracing authenticity and committing to continuous growth, you can become the leader you want to be, inspiring real change and leading your team and organisation with confidence and purpose.
I encourage you to take these steps and let me know how you get on. Feel free to send me your questions – I’m here to help you on your leadership journey.
