Authenticity

They played wrong notes. They changed instruments mid-song. They shifted genres from ballad to power pop to punk. They recorded the greatest album of the ‘80s, a lost classic inexplicably named after a Beatles album (Let It Be) -- though the only cover song is from Kiss. Their songs ranged from juvenile to sentimental to wise.

They stayed true to their idiosyncratic muse, defying genre, convention and expectations, even when it limited commercial appeal. Live shows were riotous and wildly unpredictable, from sublime to shambolic, the stuff of legend. Their reckless behavior earned a lifetime ban from Saturday Night Live. Even their name – The Replacements – was self-deprecating.

The Replacements were authentic at a time when popular music was homogenized, corporate and overly polished. When rock music lost its soul to MTV, they stoked the fire, returning rock to its rebellious roots and inspiring future generations.

I was lucky to witness them in their prime and took many inspirations from The Replacements. The biggest is this:

As a leader, it takes courage to be authentic in service of a mission, in a way that is true to who you are. The leaders – and brands -- I admire most have the courage to be original, vulnerable and human, often defying convention.

Authentic leaders and brands know who they are, what drives them and what they stand for. They’re not afraid to express these in action, even when risky, unconventional or unpopular. They don’t do this randomly or self-indulgently but to serve something larger than themselves.

Steve Jobs and Apple were true to their mission of great design, at a time when computers were designed by and for engineers. Sam Walton and Walmart were true to their mission of low prices, transforming retail. Patagonia and REI have stayed true to the outdoors community, advocating for wild places even at the expense of profits. Great artists like Dylan, Springsteen and Bowie stayed true to their muse even when fans didn’t understand.

We all can think of leaders who inspire us with authenticity, with the courage to be themselves in service of something larger.

I remember working at a large tech company where listening to executives speak was sometimes like listening to paint dry. They had speech writers and speech coaches. Their live talks and videos were often air-brushed, bland and soulless. Their words were scripted, often on teleprompters.

In a company of builders, it never felt credible or inspiring.

I served as a communication lead for another executive at the same company. She was a builder. When she communicated, she was approachable, down to earth and human. She was fearless in taking on hard issues. She spoke in builders’ words.

When we prepped for speeches, we would start by talking about what she wanted to say. I tried to organize her speech as best I could to reflect her authentic intention and style. I remember one time she was speaking in front of several thousand people in a large sports auditorium. We’d worked for weeks on her speech.

She got onstage to wild applause. Seized by inspiration, she threw the speech out the window. In front of 3,000 people, she spoke spontaneously, script be damned, walking on the tightest of tightropes. Employees loved it.

After I left the tech world, I went to a large airline. Airlines may seem glamorous, but running them is a gritty, grueling 24/7 affair with razor thin margins and daunting operational challenges.

The CEO was not a charismatic or polished speaker. He had grown up near the airport watching planes take off, dreaming of a career in aviation. He was a pilot with a finance background. He loved the airline and air travel.

When he spoke in front of large groups, he held a large yellow legal pad in one hand with his notes. He seemed slightly nervous and periodically looked down at his notes. After the air-brushed, scripted leaders of my previous company, it was a welcome breath of fresh air. It was down to earth and genuine, true to the airline’s mission and core.

In the entertainment world, Cameron Crowe is one of my favorite directors.  He champions awkward anti-heroes and underdogs defying convention, following a deeply felt purpose. Standout films for me are Almost Famous, Say Anything and Jerry Maguire, all classics.

In Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who writes a mission statement about putting clients and love of sports ahead of profit. He gets fired for it, loses almost all his business and goes on a hero’s journey to find success in a way that reflects his values.

A few years ago, my wife and I saw our favorite band, Pearl Jam, play to a hometown crowd in Seattle, raising money to help the city’s homeless community. There were thousands of people in the audience but somehow it felt like a small neighborhood gathering.

That night was about community and shared values. Midway through the set Eddie Vedder brought his kids’ high school teachers onstage to honor their contributions to the community. All told, Pearl Jam played thirty songs. We thought it would never end.

Like the riotous Replacements shows I’d attended in the 80’s, it was a band connecting authentically with their community, in service of a purpose. It’s an inspiration for all of us in daring to be authentic in service of a mission, in a way to that stays true to who we are.