I am thrilled to be speaking soon at the Phi Theta Kappa leadership conference in Illinois. As I prepare, I keep coming back to one guiding principle that I want every emerging leader in the room to understand: authentic leadership is ordinary.
That might sound surprising at first. We often imagine leaders as larger-than-life figures: super intelligent, outrageously charismatic, or impossibly good looking. The truth is that most leaders are just regular people. Some may hide their flaws behind confidence or charm, but underneath it all they are ordinary human beings. And that ordinariness is your super power.
Being highly intelligent, naturally charismatic, or great looking might help a little, but the real influence comes from being authentic, approachable, and relatable. That is what builds trust, sparks connection, and inspires shared purpose. Those are the fundamentals of authentic leadership development.
Embracing Your Ordinary Self
In my presentation, I will guide attendees on how embracing your ordinary self can actually make you a better leader. When you accept that you are not perfect, you open the door to authentic relationships. You start conversations, you build trust, and you create alignment with the people around you. This is the foundation of emerging leaders’ success.
One exercise I love to do in sessions is ask participants to think about a leader they admire. What qualities come to mind? Then I ask them to look around the room. Suddenly, they see that the same qualities exist in ordinary people all around them. Leadership is not about being extraordinary. It is about ordinary people coming together to achieve a shared goal. That is the essence of authentic leadership.
A Personal Story
I also share a bit about myself. As a child, I was drawn to the strange and unusual: ghost stories, sci-fi, and Dungeons and Dragons. I still am. I also have a soft spot for cheesy monster movies. The cheesier, the better. The Sharknado franchise has yet to win an Oscar, and in my mind, that is a tragedy.
But here is the leadership lesson. By embracing these quirks and sharing your passions, you discover kindred spirits in the room, people who share your energy and your perspective. Those connections spark conversations, build trust, and create shared purpose. That is the heart of connection in leadership.
Leadership in Action
At the conference, I will show attendees that leadership is not about being extraordinary. It is about bringing people together, finding common ground, and working toward a shared goal. By the end of the session, I hope each participant will see their ordinary self not as a limitation but as a super power waiting to be used. This approach strengthens leadership development, encourages collaboration, and creates leaders who are grounded in authenticity.
The Super Power of Ordinary Leadership
Leadership is ordinary, and that is what makes it extraordinary. By embracing your ordinary self, connecting with those around you, and sharing your passions, you can build trust, foster authentic relationships, and inspire shared purpose. That is how ordinary people achieve extraordinary results.
If you are an emerging leader looking to grow your impact, remember this: your authenticity and ordinariness are your greatest assets. Use them to connect, to inspire, and to lead with purpose.
