By Jose Ruiz
Jose Ruiz serves as Alder Koten’s Chief Executive Officer providing vision, strategic direction and the roadmap for the firm’s future. He is also involved in executive search work focused on board members, CEOs and senior-level executives; and consulting engagements related to leadership and organizational effectiveness helping clients create thriving cultures.
A true leader is authentic. It is the highest standard in leadership, which requires an open mind and the ability to cope with moving beyond the comfort zone. In general, being an authentic leader refers to being true to one’s self and values, while maintaining a strong coherence between what one thinks, feels, and does.
However, this type of leadership is often misunderstood, because every circumstance is different and every leader has their styles and experiences. In general, there are three myths and facts on what constitute an authentic leader. Understanding them would greatly help in taking your leadership to the next level.
At least, every leader should be aware of the privilege that being a leader brings to others and the team. By growing yourself authentically, you are providing them with an opportunity to move forward and learn together. An authentic leader is a learner, facilitator, mediator, and solution provider, after all.
About Alder Koten
Alder Koten helps shape organizations through a combination of research, executive search, cultural & leadership assessment, and other talent advisory services. The firm was founded in 2011 and currently includes 6 partners and over 28 consultants in 4 cities. The firm’s headquarters are located in Houston and it has offices in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City with partner firms in New York, Boston, Chicago, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom. We know where to find the executives you need and how to attract top talent to your organization. Our approach to executive search is based on a thorough understanding of the strategic, cultural, financial and operational issues our clients face. Our executive search engagements are targeted and focused on the specific requirements of the position including industry and functional experience, skills, competencies, cultural fit, and leadership style. Our process is rigorous. We take a disciplined and structured approach to identifying potential candidates that meet the position requirements including subject-matter, functional and regional expertise. We use our high-level professional networks, industry knowledge, and internal research resources to achieve results in every executive search engagement.
