People want leaders, but they reject self-serving inauthentic leaders. These two theories are in an earlier stage of development than the others. Servant leaders are good stewards of the organization’s interests. Servant leaders focus on helping others by placing their needs ahead of self-interest. This is the act of true friendship. Servant leadership is based on the premise that leaders who are best able to motivate followers are those who focus on prioritizing the fulfillment of followers’ needs ahead of self-interest.

Servant leaders understand that leadership is never about you—it’s about them. Authentic leaders develop open, honest, trusting relationships. Authentic leaders emphasize building legitimacy through honest relationships with followers, seeking their input (voice) to improve performance. They lead by example. People look for authenticity and often spot a phony, such as when a narcissist is nice to you just to get something from you.

Recall the importance of relationships in our personal and professional lives. We can only be on our best behavior for so long before we reveal our true selves. Do you understand the need for unselfish authentic behavior?