This week, I have learned about Authentic Leadership. Today is the last class for this subject and we need to complete all the task and assignment before due date on next week. Dr had asked us what you understand by authentic. What is authentic? I personally answer it is means legit and some others say genuine, been true, real, and so on. Then, Dr asked us, are you authentic as a person? If u have different characteristic in your life where you are alone and you are in public, it is not authentic.

Bill George (2003) say that authentic leaders are good in their skin, so good they don’t feel a need to impress or please others. They not only inspire those around them, but they also bring people together around a shared purpose and a common set of values and motivate them to create value for everyone involved.

According to George also, authentic have three dimensions which is intrapersonal, interpersonal, and developmental. For intrapersonal, leadership based on self-concept and how self-concept relates to actions (Shamir & Eliam, 2005). For interpersonal, leadership is created by leaders and followers together (Eagly, 2005). The last is developmental, leadership can be nurtures and develops over a lifetime (Avolio & Gardner, 2005).

Bill George have conducted research in 2007, his research revealed an interesting common theme from study of 125 leaders. Most of these successful leaders had been powerfully impacted by what he called a crucible, a signal event or challenging situation in their lives that set them on a clear path of purpose. For example, Howard Schultz, his father loses his job as a delivery driver because he broke his ankle. So, Schultz build a company that treated its employees well, with solid health benefits and insurance. Another example, Oprah Winfrey, memories of her own abuse life and she discovered her broader mission to empower people especially women all over the world.

For Nelson Mandela, it was during his long incarceration on Robbins Island when he realized that his leadership purpose, his “True North”, was not about the “I” of getting people to follow him but rather the “WE” for the independent of South Africa.

This journey leaders have three phases which is phase 1, typically up to roughly age 30, in phase 2, from about 30 to 60 years of age and phase 3, has us really giving back: coaching, mentoring, and encouraging other leaders, and serving on boards of not-for-profit organizations.

After end of the learning delivered by Dr, the presentation activity continued by group 8 entitled the level 5 leadership. This group consists of 6 members namely Liyana, Arwa, Chen, Meng Meng, Yi Yi and Jannah. Overall, the presentation was very interesting. In the end of presentation, we need to give mark to their group in the excel.