Leading with authenticity is a recurring theme in our leadership research and teaching here at Saïd Business School. But there is often an innate tension between being authentically yourself on the one hand, while also being tuned into the world around you and the needs of the people that you lead on the other hand.
In this episode of Oxford Tea Talks Leasil Burrow and Lucy Shaw, the academic directors of two of our leadership programmes, discuss what happens those two things aren't congruent – what they call the ‘authenticity paradox’. As leaders we need to be mindful of how we ‘show up’ to our people – our teams, clients and stakeholders. Our behaviours, professional identities and personal leadership styles are closely and constantly scrutinised.
Leasil Burrow is the Programme Director for our Executive Education Women Transforming Leadership Programme.
Lucy Shaw is the Programme Director for our Executive Education Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme.
Oxford Tea Talks is a conversation series where you get to listen to new ideas and cutting-edge research, and also gain fresh perspectives on the thorny issues businesses and business leaders are facing today. Each episode pairs two people - a mix of faculty, associate fellows and thought leaders from Saïd Business School and the University of Oxford - to engage in a dynamic discussion over a cup of tea.
