Back to Leadership - PMBOK 7th edition

Authentic Leadership

5 minutes 5 Questions

Authentic leadership is a leadership approach that emphasizes the importance of being genuine, self-aware, and transparent. Authentic leaders are guided by their core values and beliefs, and they strive to build trust and credibility with their team members through honest and open communication. They are self-aware, understanding their own strengths, weaknesses, and emotions, and they use this self-knowledge to guide their actions and decisions. Authentic leaders also encourage their team members to be true to themselves, fostering a culture of authenticity and personal integrity. In a project management setting, authentic leaders create an environment of trust and transparency, where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and feedback. They lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to the project's goals and values, and inspiring their team members to do the same. By being genuine and self-aware, authentic leaders can build strong, cohesive teams that are better equipped to handle the challenges and uncertainties of project work.

Guide to Authentic Leadership - PMBOK 7th Edition

Authentic leadership is a principle highlighted in the PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition. It emphasizes the importance of leaders being genuine and true to themselves.

Why It Is Important: Authentic leadership is crucial because it fosters trust and respect between leaders and their teams. It encourages transparent communication and ethical behavior, leading to a positive organizational culture and increased team engagement.

What It Is: Authentic leadership is characterized by a leader’s self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing of information, and relational transparency. It is about leaders knowing who they are, what they believe in, and acting consistently with those beliefs.

How It Works: Authentic leaders work by modeling high levels of honesty, integrity, and trust. They are open in sharing information about themselves and admit their mistakes and vulnerabilities. This transparency helps in building genuine relationships with their team members, making it easier to navigate challenges and motivating the team towards achieving their goals.

How to Answer Questions Regarding Authentic Leadership in an Exam: When answering exam questions on authentic leadership, it’s important to focus on the key characteristics such as self-awareness, ethical decision-making, openness, and transparency. Refer to how authentic leadership can positively influence an organization's culture and productivity.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Authentic Leadership
1. Understand the concept of authentic leadership thoroughly, including its characteristics and importance.
2. Use examples to illustrate how authentic leadership can be applied within the context of project management.
3. Be prepared to differentiate authentic leadership from other leadership styles, highlighting its unique benefits.
4. Discuss the impact of authentic leadership on team dynamics, trust building, and overall project success.

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PMP - Leadership - PMBOK 7th edition Example Questions

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Question 1

A project manager leading a diverse team notices growing tensions and misunderstandings among team members from different cultural backgrounds. These conflicts are affecting project progress and team morale. As an authentic leader, the project manager decides to address this issue by organizing a team-building exercise. Which of the following approaches aligns best with authentic leadership principles in this situation?

Correct Answer: Facilitate open discussions about cultural differences and encourage team members to share their perspectives and experiences.

The best approach aligning with authentic leadership principles in this situation is to facilitate open discussions about cultural differences and encourage team members to share their perspectives and experiences. This approach embodies authentic leadership by: 1. Promoting transparency and open communication 2. Valuing diversity and inclusivity 3. Encouraging self-awareness and mutual understanding 4. Addressing the root cause of the conflict directly 5. Empowering team members to contribute to the solution Explanation of other options: Implementing a strict code of conduct may standardize behavior but doesn't address the underlying cultural misunderstandings or promote authentic interactions. Assigning cross-cultural pairs for project tasks can be beneficial but may not provide immediate resolution to the current tensions and doesn't actively encourage open dialogue about cultural differences. Conducting lectures on cultural sensitivity, while educational, takes a top-down approach that doesn't actively engage team members in sharing their own experiences or addressing specific team dynamics. Mandatory assessments may feel inauthentic and create additional pressure rather than fostering genuine understanding.

Question 2

How do authentic leaders typically respond when they make a mistake in their leadership role?

Correct Answer: They openly acknowledge the mistake and take responsibility to learn from it.

Authentic leaders openly acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility to learn from them. This approach fosters trust and integrity within the team. In contrast, covering up mistakes, delegating blame, or ignoring errors undermines leadership credibility and team confidence.

Question 3

How does authentic leadership contribute to building resilience within a team?

Correct Answer: By fostering a trusting environment where team members feel supported to overcome challenges.

Authentic leadership fosters a trusting environment where team members feel supported to overcome challenges, thereby building resilience. Other approaches, such as maintaining strict control, prioritizing individual achievements, or encouraging competitive behavior, can undermine team cohesion and resilience.

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