IN THE LATE 1980s, Canon ran a commercial with professional tennis player Andre Agassi that launched an infamous slogan: Image Is Everything. For many years leaders of all respects have embraced that sentiment, doing everything they could to come across as powerful, strong, and flawless. Yet, recent research has found that effective leadership isn’t about always being perfect but about being genuine. When followers believe their leaders are acting as their authentic selves, they experience greater well-being, trust the organization more, perform better, work harder, and make more-ethical decisions.
However, breaking out of the “Image Is Everything” mindset is difficult, and leaders often find it challenging to come across as authentic. Our research finds that one reason leaders struggle is because they frequently choose to present their strengths and intentionally…
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Harvard Business Review Special Issues (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2025