I’ve always been fascinated with our cultural admiration of Super Heroes. It teaches us about authentic leadership. Whether it’s Superman, Wonder Woman, Thor, or some other famous comic book character, there’s something about the mythological narrative that intrigues us. It reflects authentic leadership qualities.

The Power of the Myth

Joseph Campbell addresses this phenomenon in his book, The Power of the Myth. According to Campbell, mythological narratives are, in one way or another, variations on a single story. There are common patterns that exist between the elements of the great myths, regardless of their time of creation. And we’re still writing them to this day. At the end of the day, there’s something powerful about stories of people (fictional or not) who overcome adversity despite the odds. They fulfill their purpose, and ultimately triumph in the name of service to others. Such narratives often serve as inspiration for authentic leadership. It’s stories like these that resonate with the very core of our being.

If you follow me on X (Twitter), I’m sure you’ve recognized that I love going to the movies. Despite my love for cinema, it’s not necessary for me to do this in order to find stories of people doing amazing things.

Everyday Heroes

Whether it’s the bravery and commitment of our First Responders or the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms; the entrepreneur who creates a product or service that makes our everyday lives a bit easier; the single mom who finds a way to work two jobs and provide for the financial and loving needs of her family; or the teacher who stays up late at night, or gets up early. They ensure the curriculum is just right to get his or her student from where they are now to be where they need to be. There are stories of everyday Super Heroes all around us. They exhibit authentic leadership.

The frustrating thing is, stories like this often get buried beneath the headlines of stories filled with drama, negativity, and controversy. There’s no doubt we are living in challenging times. But despite the challenges of the world we find ourselves living in today, there is light in the midst of darkness. There is plenty of it, especially when we intentionally search for it.

We All Have a Story

Although we typically downplay them, each one of us has an extraordinary story to tell. If we choose to share it, not only can it make a significant impact in the life of someone else, it can give us the opportunity to connect with them at a deeper level than we may have in the past. You see, just like in the movies, people connect with us through our stories, our failures. They also connect during times we’ve overcome adversity despite the challenges before us. This is where authentic leadership truly begins. My questions to you are: As a leader, how often do you share them? And if not, why not? What difference might it make if you did?

Leadership author, Brene Brown, says one of the truisms of wholehearted living, and leadership I might add, is that we either walk into our story and own the truth, or we choose to live outside of our story, hustling for our worthiness. The challenge is, most of the extraordinary stories we have to tell – the ones that can really make a difference – are lined with failure and disappointment. And, in our need to self-preserve and self-protect, we choose to linger on the boundaries of adversity in our lives, our negative experiences. We end up never truly owning our story. It’s that story made up of significant life events that has molded us and shaped us into who we are today.

Self-Reflection and Application

So, with that in mind, think about your personal story and how it relates to leading with true authenticity. For some of you, this may be hard. Owning our stories means we must acknowledge our feelings, wrestle with hard emotions, and choose to either accept or deny them. Moreover, I would like to encourage you to share your story with someone you lead at a time when it is relevant. Sharing your story for the sake of sharing it doesn’t have the same impact as when you share it with someone who is currently struggling. Your story would offer insight, perspective, and most importantly, hope in the context of authentic leadership.

Until next time, lead empowered and continue to fight for the highest possible good of others! Moreover, search for the light. There’s plenty of it!

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