Press Release – 3 February 2010 – Immediate Release
THE AUTHENTIC
ABBOTT
According to the Australian Leadership Development Centre, it is the notion of authentic
leadership that has seen the federal coalition come back from the brink of obscurity in the polls –
and there are lessons here for managers and executives in all organisations.
The latest Newspoll shows that under Tony Abbott’s leadership, the coalition is starting to claw its
way back into the hearts of voters. What then can we learn from Abbott’s style? Abbott has not
been afraid to speak his mind, even when he knows his views are not shared by a lot of voters.
Research shows that people are yearning for authenticity in their leaders – leaders who know what
they stand for and say what they really think. This is a stark contrast to the typical sanitized spin
peddled out by politicians and company management.
If you hold a leadership position of any kind, you would do well to work at being a more authentic
leader. Authentic leadership is a hot topic amongst some of the world’s leading scholars of
leadership and as Abbott has illustrated, it has a real impact on your performance. Our review of
these scholars work suggests that truly authentic leaders are:
Genuine in their interactions with others
Relentless in their desire to discern the truth of everything around them
Acutely aware of their own goals, values and tendencies
Incredibly disciplined in their pursuit of that which is important to them
Compassionate – showing care for people and causes beyond their own self interest
For more information about authentic leadership see Authentic Leadership Explained at
About Us
The Australian Leadership Development Centre is an educational organisation devoted to
strengthening leadership through connecting people to practical, yet evidence-based knowledge.
Contact:
Shaun Killian (MLead, MEd)
Email:
shaun@leadershipdevelopment.edu.au
Phone:
0438 139 719
Web:
NEWS 
