Us & We

free ai image from www.craiyon.com "one team one heartbeat"

The Latin phrase "bonum autem facientes non deficiamus tempore enim suo metemus non deficientes" translates to: "But let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up" (Latin Vulgate Bible, n.d.). This expression encourages perseverance in doing good deeds, assuring us that there will be rewards for such efforts if we remain steadfast. How do leaders maintain energy, enthusiasm, and perseverance daily and stay committed to doing good deeds for those they steward? Introduce the model of "Us and We" and unlearn "I and Me."

To contribute to the learning and acknowledge a trait tied to leadership that resonates with the concept of team building, authentic leadership aims to address putting the interests of others before a leader's self-interest. Without subtracting from scholars, the credit applied to Steffens et al. (2021) suggests that leaders who are in tune with their moral compass, able to highlight their value system, and simultaneously identify with their shared community enable their followers to perceive them as genuinely authentic.

Of course, one should hope that organizational influencers put others' interests before self-interest in an ideal situation, and it is not impossible to think of cases where the contrary has increased. As organizational citizens, it is postulated that rules, regulations, and laws are not needed to govern others; instead, someone is required to help empower others.

According to Steffens et al. (2021), leaders stay true to themselves in four distinct ways. First, they are aware of themselves and how they act, behave, and appear in the world; in basic terms, self-awareness is a characteristic. Second, an authentic leader can be transparent, interpersonally vulnerable, and visible to others. Third, authentic leaders are open to the ideas of others and welcome thoughts contrary to their own. Finally, their value and belief systems regulate organizational decision-making.

In summary, psychologists Steffens et al. (2021) have found that if the aforementioned character traits exist in leaders who aim for an authentic style of influence, organizational achievement improves, employee exhaustion and fatigue are lower, and employees engage in the work.

References:

Latin Vulgate Bible. (n.d.). The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians: Chapter 6:9. https://latinvulgate.com/verse.aspx?t=1&b=9&c=6

Steffens, N. K., Wolyniec, N., Okimoto, T., Mols, F., Haslam, S. A., & Kay, A. (2021). Knowing me, knowing us: Personal and collective self-awareness enhances authentic leadership and leader endorsement. The Leadership Quarterly, 32(6). https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/z2r7f