The Power of a Learning Community: Reading and Leading from the Inside Out

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In a world filled with noise, pressure, and performative leadership, authenticity has become a revolutionary act—especially for executives. Leading authentically isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up as our real selves, aligning our actions with our values, and creating trust that transforms our organizations from the inside out.

For executives, authenticity is more than a buzzword—it’s a leadership imperative. It's the grounding force that allows us to connect meaningfully with our teams, lead with clarity, and stay resilient in uncertain times. Let’s explore why authenticity matters now more than ever, introduce five powerful books to guide our journey, and invite you to join a free community where we practice authentic leadership together.

Why Authenticity Matters for Executives

  1. Trust Is the Currency of Leadership
    Authentic leaders are trustworthy. When we speak and act in alignment with our values, people know they can believe us. They may not always agree, but they will respect our consistency. In environments where layoffs, reorganizations, and uncertainty are common, authenticity provides psychological safety for our teams. People are more willing to follow leaders who are real.

  2. Authenticity Drives Influence, Not Just Authority
    Title and hierarchy might earn us compliance. Authenticity earns us commitment. It’s what moves people emotionally and inspires action. Our stories—our truths—are more powerful than a dozen metrics when they connect with someone’s heart.

  3. Being Real Prevents Burnout
    Many of us burn out not just from overwork, but from the emotional labor of pretending. Wearing a mask every day—hiding doubts, overcompensating, or putting on a persona—drains the soul. Authentic leadership is also self-leadership. When we lead from our center, we conserve energy, make better decisions, and stay more deeply connected to our purpose.

  4. Authenticity Is Magnetic
    Authentic leaders attract aligned opportunities, clients, employees, and partnerships. People want to work with those who are honest, vulnerable, and real. It allows for more genuine relationships in every direction—across our teams, our peers, our boards, and even our competitors.

  5. Authenticity Unlocks Innovation
    Innovation requires vulnerability. Sharing imperfect ideas, inviting feedback, and listening without ego all demand authenticity. When we model these behaviors, we create cultures where creativity and courage thrive.

Top 5 Books on Authentic Leadership

There are many thought-leaders on the topic of authentic leaders and we can benefit greatly from their insights by taking in their observations individually or in connected communities. Here are five transformative books that explore authentic leadership and offer powerful frameworks to apply in our executive lives:

1. “True North” by Bill George

This classic is a foundational text on authentic leadership. Based on interviews with 125 top leaders, True North defines five dimensions of authentic leadership—purpose, values, relationships, self-discipline, and heart—and encourages us to discover our own "true north" as a compass.
Why Read It: It combines real-world stories with personal development tools to help us articulate and embody our leadership values.

2. “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

Brown brings her groundbreaking research on vulnerability and shame into the workplace. This book teaches how courage, clarity, and connection come from embracing vulnerability—not hiding from it.
Why Read It: Her framework for "rumbling with vulnerability" is a game-changer for leaders seeking to be both strong and open.

3. “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership” by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Warner Klemp

This is a handbook for those of us who want to shift from reactive to creative energy. The commitments challenge us to live "above the line"—with responsibility, curiosity, and integrity—and leave blame and victimhood behind.
Why Read It: It’s a practical and spiritual guide for leading from presence, not pressure.

4. “Real Love” by Greg Baer

Real Love explores the concept of unconditional love—what it is, how we’ve learned to seek imitation versions of it, and how embracing real love can radically improve our relationships and leadership.
Why Read It: Authentic leadership is rooted in emotional honesty and compassion. This book helps us examine our emotional motivations and lead from a place of genuine care, not fear or control.

5. “Leadership and Self-Deception” by The Arbinger Institute

This book teaches how self-deception can sabotage leadership and relationships. Through a compelling narrative, it reveals how to get out of the “box” and see others as people, not obstacles.
Why Read It: If we’re ready to see our blind spots and build genuine connections, this book offers a mirror and a map.

Book Club Idea

What if we could soak up the insights from these and other books that have so much to teach us, and amplify the experience by sharing what we're learning with each other? Would that interest you? I'm considering launching a free, virtual community for executives who want to lead more authentically—and live more fully—by reading and discussing transformational personal development books together.

Each month, we can one powerful book on authentic leadership and gather for a virtual conversation to reflect on how its themes apply to our lives, our values, and our leadership journeys. These would not be surface-level book discussions, but soul-level conversations designed to support our growth and connection.

Here’s what I have in mind:

  • 1 book per month—beginning with the list above and others recommended by members—with the option to take more than one month as needed

  • Free and virtual—join from anywhere

  • 90 minute monthly sessions—discussing key points from each chapter

  • Real conversations about relevant insights—not therapy or complaint sessions

This could be that community of other high-performing change-makers that you can actually talk to and learn from as peers with no competition or pressure to impress.

Interested?

Email me at skaybventures@gmail.com to let me know if you would like to commit to completing one book together, staring in August. There’s no cost and no pressure—just a warm invitation to be part of a circle that values truth, growth, and heart-centered leadership.

Let’s read, reflect, and rise—together.


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