INTRODUCTIONThis week's topic led me to research for myself how many personalities I possess and when I apply each one. It is evident that not only do leaders have the potential or feel the need to be different people at different times and in different situations or environments, but followers or just ordinary people face difficult demands of the job, family, environment, etc. faith in this makes life a little more complicated. The question now is: at what point can we stop and ask ourselves, “Who am I?” Is this the real me? In other words, am I authentic, more or less authentic, or inauthentic? Authenticity LeadershipGardner et al (2005) defined authenticity as owning one's personal experiences (values, thoughts, emotions, and beliefs) and acting based on those personal experiences. What standards define a person's personal experience, which in turn makes it authentic? Gardner also stated that an authentic leader is able to achieve authenticity through self-awareness, self-acceptance, authentic actions, and relationships with followers and associates. Being self-aware allows a leader to evaluate their values, identity, motivations and goals and control all of these variables, resulting in the ability to self-manage or self-regulate as postulated by Gardner and al (2005). Self-regulation stated that certain distinctive characteristics are associated with self-regulation and include:1. Internalized regulation: a person's ability to be true to themselves regarding their values, beliefs, motivations and goals makes it easy to correct a mistake when it is noticed. Intrinsic regulation is that system that states expectations and the current state and agrees on areas for correction...... middle of paper ...... political intelligence goes hand in hand with authenticity? Works Cited Gardner WL et al (2005) Can you see the real me? A self-sustaining model of authentic leader and follower development. Flight. 16, pages 343-372 [Online] available at: http://uwtv.org/files/2013/01/gardneravolioluthansmaywalumbwa2005.pdf. Accessed April 19, 2014Avolio, BJ & Gardner, WL (2005) Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. Flight. 16 pages 315-338 [Online] Available at: http://www.keyleadership.com/Downloads/Authentic%20Leadership%20Development%20.pdf. Accessed April 20, 2014Emuwa A. (2013) Authentic leadership: commitment to supervisor, follower empowerment and procedural justice climate. Flight. 6(1) pages 45-65 [Online] available at: http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/elj/vol6iss1/3elj_vol6iss1_emuwa.pdf. Accessed April 20 2014