Authentic Leadership
By Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE
I am a leadership geek. Seriously! I love reading articles and books on leadership, watching Ted Talks or videos and listening to leadership experts and speakers. I find the subject fascinating and I am convinced that we can always learn something new. In this article, I want to discuss a topic that is significant in 2025, authentic leadership. We find ourselves in a polarized world, characterized by a multitude of opinions and more disagreements than common ground. Often, the motto seems to be winning at any cost, leading to a troubling trend where people not only disagree with their opponents but also seek to undermine them. This unsettling phenomenon fosters distrust, hatred, division, and animosity— qualities that certainly do not reflect positive leadership or admirable leaders.
The word authentic is powerful. It sends out a message that this is the real deal, genuine, honest and true. Authenticity communicates ethics, values and character, making a strong statement all on its own. It doesn’ t need to criticize imitations or rivals; instead, it simply stands for truth without making excuses. Authentic leadership is one of the most powerful forms of leadership and management practices. In this approach, accountability, honesty, and critical thinking are essential elements for becoming a successful leader. No games, no posturing, no name calling or retaliation –– just strong people who make the best decisions possible based on the information at hand. It cares about ethics, character, and about bringing people together rather than forcing them apart.
In school bus transportation, authentic leadership is much more the standard as opposed to the exception. The overwhelming majority of the leadership I have the privilege of serving understand the concept and live it. This is evidenced by how they do business daily. We exemplify our leadership when we deal with challenges and difficult situations. It is evidenced by our words, our actions, our attitudes, our attention to our work, and the outcomes we produce. It is not always the easiest or most politically correct path, but it is the most powerful and sustainable. In my educational career, I have worked with a wide variety of leaders with interesting styles, methods and ethics. I have viewed leaders who will do anything to get personally ahead even at the cost of their teams. I have experienced a leader who thinks character is a Disney personality like Mickey, Minnie or Goofy! I have watched other leaders who care more about their teams or units than the organizations they serve! In other words, not to belabor the point, I have seen some shady leadership! The good news is that it has taught me to recognize those that are authentic. How about you? Do you view yourself as an authentic leader? It is not dependent on your title or your authority- it is dependent on your character and intention. While like all of you, I am a flawed leader at times –– my goal is to be authentic 100 % of the time. For me, this means being true to my word and myself and treating everyone around me from staff, to leadership, to members, to business partners, and the educational world with respect and understanding. Today, if you are lucky enough to work with authentic leaders, show your appreciation! If not, be the kind of authentic leader that carries the day!
12 | SCHOOL-BUSRIDE. COM | APRIL 2025