Authentic Leadership

Being a man or woman is one of the strongest identifications we know. Even before you receive your name, this identity is already established. From that moment on you will be an inseparable part of the collective of men or women.

Imbalance in the male and female polarities, brings imbalance to the world. The results are visible at the top of business, politics, the position of women and the state of our climate. Men now face the challenge of developing a new, more mature form of leadership. One that is more connected to their emotional intelligence (or EQ).

Unlocking potential

We men have more to offer than a focus on results and the pursuit of short-term success. Yet this potential often remains untapped. Part of this focus is ingrained in our culture and the messages that we have received throughout childhood. Being more in tune with your emotions brings more clarity and allows you to communicate more effectively.

Make different choices

We now face the challenge of developing a more Authentic leadership style. This means, that you make your choices based on a more holistic view of the world. You will notice a growth in your leadership style when you develop your intuitive qualities and communication skills. Allowing your self to be more comfortable with “not knowing” will help you to open up for others; challenging your own assumptions. Incorporating rational, emotional, physical and spiritual intelligence, will greatly improve the quality of your decisions.

Four types of Intelligence

At BolsterKracht we use a model for Authentic Leadership. This model consists of four archetypical types of intelligence, each with their own positive and negative pole. Authentic leadership resides in the center of these poles. The model makes you aware of your behavior and reveals opportunities for growth.

The four archetypical types of intelligence are:

IQ (The King)
This quadrant represents the ability to think logically. When the mind is used in the correct way – and not for the self-interest of the king, but for the good of the people – it is a powerful instrument that gives direction for great changes.

PQ (The Warrior)
This quadrant represents the intelligence of your body. Embodied leadership means that you not only know the leadership concepts but also how to live and breathe them. Using the wisdom of your body helps you become more authentic as a leader. When emotions and feelings are no longer suppressed but guided, goals are easily achieved and the focus on results increases.

SQ (The Magician)
Spiritual intelligence is the guiding principle for your personal growth. It allows you to surrender and trust in greater powers than your intellectual capabilities and become familiar with these forces. While you focus your attention to your inner world; your reflective capabilities grow and you’ll be able to adopt a situational leadership style.

EQ (The Lover)
Emotional intelligence is an important aspect as a leader. Working with engineers and business leaders, this quadrant is often underdeveloped. Dealing with your emotions and those of others in a mature way makes you particularly powerful and resilient.

Personal development

This model helps you to take significant steps forward in your personal development. Ultimately, this will make your life easier, both professionally and personally. As a trainer and a coach, I think it is important that men have the opportunity to develop themselves and do not continue to conform themselves to how others view them. It is time for us to step up and learn how we can do better in all areas of our lives.