“Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Just be yourself and do your job as best you can.”
– Bobby Bowden, 2-Time National Champion Coach
When studying high achievers, it’s interesting to note that there is no single personality type or leadership style that guarantees success. However, there are a few common characteristics that all successful people share.
Look no further than the two most dominant college football coaches in recent history for an example of this fact.
At Alabama, Nick Saban leads the Crimson Tide with a more reserved, business-like approach. At Clemson, Dabo Swinney leads the Tigers with a more spirited, fun-loving approach. Both coaches have built elite championship programs with approaches that, on the surface, look much different.
However, it’s what they have in common that may be most revealing about the keys to success.
First, they believe in the importance of a positive, can-do attitude. You won’t find a successful leader who encourages their team to think smaller, think poorly of themselves, and focus on why objectives can’t be accomplished.
They demand relentless effort from themselves and others. Successful people recognize that in order to achieve worthwhile goals, a strong work ethic is not optional.
They adapt to changing circumstances. High achievers take an attack-and-adapt approach to their goals and they aren’t afraid to change tactics when something isn’t working as planned.
And finally, they are true to themselves. Great leaders are authentic. They aren’t fake. They aren’t trying to be someone they’re not. They know who they are and who they want to be. They don’t force themselves to be something else.
It’s this fourth quality that often gets overlooked, but it’s a crucial component of success.
If Nick Saban tried to run his program like Dabo Swinney, players and staff would recognize right away that he was coming across phony. The same would be true at Clemson if Swinney tried to emulate Saban’s personality. Both coaches are successful precisely because they are being true to themselves and not trying to be someone they are not.
What worked for Woody Hayes would not have worked for Barry Switzer. What worked for Bobby Knight would not have worked for John Wooden. The reason all four of these coaches are Hall of Famers is because they coached in a style that fit their personalities. Despite having much different personas and philosophies, they were true to themselves and the teams they led recognized and responded to that authenticity.
To be clear, “being yourself” doesn’t mean refusing to improve yourself or learn from the success of others. In fact, emulating those who have achieved what you want to achieve is an essential method for succeeding much faster than you otherwise could have.
But when it comes to emulating role models, it’s important that you choose to emulate someone who represents the qualities and personality traits that you admire.
Forcing yourself to act like someone you think you should act like—even though you know you wouldn’t actually want to be like them—is a recipe for disaster. Not only will it create an inner-conflict that is impossible for you to overcome, but those you’re attempting to lead will recognize you as fake.
There are plenty of role models to choose from. Why not choose someone who represents the qualities you would most like to embrace, the qualities that feel most natural to you?
This concept goes for what you choose to do with your life just as much as it goes for your personality and leadership style.
You may have specific dreams in your heart that people close to you think are silly or unrealistic. Don’t listen to them. They are your dreams and it’s up to you to follow the unique passions you have in your heart.
If you’re following the dreams someone else has decided for you, you will never find your authentic self and you will never live the unique life you were born to live.
Only you know if you’re being true to yourself. Only you know if you’re following the dreams in your heart. Only you know if you’re living up to the standards you’ve set for yourself.
It can take a lot of courage to be your authentic self, but it’s essential to your success and your happiness.
Be the person you were meant to be, regardless of what someone else says you should be. Don’t be afraid to think for yourself. Become the very best version of yourself—you know in your heart what that looks like
And remember this: You will never find a happy and successful person who spent their life pretending to be someone they are not.
