What are the most important leadership skills? Is it competency, honesty or flexibility? Is it communication, or perhaps humility?

Being a leader is not easy, and it certainly is an ongoing, life-long process. It's like putting together a puzzle, and every piece is critical; otherwise, the picture cannot be complete.

But you can have a plethora of skills, but not be authentic, and your admirable list of competencies will be largely negated. Authenticity....who you are when no one is looking, when there is no promise for recognition or repercussions.....largely defines who you really are.

It's a question worth taking a few minutes and asking yourself:

• Are there places where I skimp when I know I should go the extra mile?
• Is there any relationship I should work to strengthen, even though that person cannot benefit me in any way?
• Are there times when I compromise my own values, even a tiny bit, because no one will know anyway?

Your authenticity builds confidence, both from yourself and from others. And building authenticity into everything you do builds quality leadership, quality service and customers who keep returning because they know what they receive from you is the best that can be found.

Learn how to build this authenticity into the services you provide with this learn-at-your-own-pace e-course:

Creating a Culture of Customer Service Excellence