I was born and raised in the South. And more specifically, in Louisiana. Louisiana is a culinary destination, offering cuisine that fires the soul–gumbo, red beans and rice, and fried catfish are some of the signature dishes. But where there is savory, there must also be sweet. The tea cake is what southern dreams are made of–rich, fragrant, and subtly sweet. Recently, I began researching recipes to make my own tea cake. I wanted to create that childhood experience and have it at my fingertips. There are thousands of recipes, but, sadly, most are not worth the paper they’re printed on. At the office one day, I told my colleague, Roxanne, of my quest for the perfect tea cake recipe. To my delight, she said that her mother had been making tea cakes for decades. Tentatively, I asked Roxanne if she could get the recipe . . . and she did. (I was hesitant to ask because southern women are not fond of handing over their recipes.) A few days later, there was a copy of the recipe on my chair. I picked up the paper, noting the handwritten ingredients and a one-line directive at the bottom that let me know this was the real deal: “Put slice of bread in container after baking to keep them soft.” Clearly, I was dealing with an expert. I rushed upstairs to thank Roxanne. She laughed and said, “I started typing it out, but then decided to just copy the original for you.” I responded by telling Roxanne that seeing her mother’s handwriting and the water stain in the corner meant everything. There was warmth, personality, and a peek into who the writer was. The handwritten recipe was unquestionably authentic.
As leaders, authenticity is invaluable. It builds relationships. Authentic leaders understand themselves and are not afraid to show their true selves to others. This can be a difficult concept because as leaders, we don’t instinctively showcase our limitations. But to be authentic is to be honest. And honesty is the bedrock of any relationship. People are not seeking perfection, they are seeking leaders who are genuine, trustworthy and supportive. We can be none of those things unless we are real. And realness requires opening a window into our who, what, where, when, how, and why. That is: who we are, what motivates us, where we want to take our team, when we want to get there, how we plan to do it and why we’ve chosen the mission.
Our willingness to reveal ourselves to the people we lead demonstrates our trust in them. In every organization, leaders are tasked with sharing information. People want to know and understand the source of information; that’s how we determine its reliability. When Roxanne told me that her mother had made tea cakes for decades, I began to trust the source. When Roxanne produced the recipe, with the uneven writing and the water stain, I was convinced. I understood the backstory and the flawed presentation was evidence of authenticity. Approaching leadership in that fashion will create success and others will soon be asking for your recipe.
~Britney A. Green, Founder of Bonfire Leadership
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