What are the best traits in an authentic leader?

Lead by example.

I believe the best traits of an authentic leader are compassion, courage and humility.

Integrity, Honesty, Dependability and Knowledge

Selfless service. One must put the mission and the needs of one’s soldiers above one’s own wants and desires. Sincerity, trust, courage, and self discipline are also critical. People/soldiers will follow another, if they believe that person has their best interest at heart and has the courage to do what’s right and LEAD the way.

I liken an authentic leader to be identical to an authentic follower of Christ. I say this because serving the Lord is very much like serving in our military. There are some in both "Core Values" that guide the life of a service member (military and Christian) 24/7, there are high expectations (including death), there is a end game (retirement/eternity), each person has a specialty to help fulfill the mission (MOS/rating/spiritual gift) and there is a common mission to be carried out. Everyone is placed in a leadership role at some point in their career/spiritual walk and everyone needs to be concerned with taking on positive leader attributes and being the best leader possible at all times. Here is a list of some of those attributes (not all inclusive):
1. Humble (able to lead and be led)
2. Honest (even when it is going to be an admittance of wrong doing)
3. Courageous (nor fearless, but able to stand firm in times of danger)
4. Encourager (team builder)
5. Mission focused (mission first, people always)
6. Effective communicator
7. Knows a little something about most things dealing with the entire force, but a subject matter expert at their specialty (team, platform, airframe, unit, etc...)
8. A man or woman with integrity at all times
9. Willing to work themselves out of a job (mentoring and teaching future leaders)

Respectfully,
OSCS (SW/MTS) Marsh
U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Being honest and transparent.

Good communication both up and down your chain if command

1) You lead from the front not the rear.
When you take a length of rope and push it down the road then is when you can lead from behind.
2) Do unto others as you would do unto others
3) Demonstrate what and how you want some thing. By Demonstrating you're showing what you want is not impossible by showing you are demonstrating how you want it done.
4) By screaming and shouting you just make people nervous. I figured that is why they do it to you in boot camp and then they could scream some more.
5) Never let them see you sweat. If your unit sees that you are nervous it gives them a reason to be nervous.
6) Give praise for doing a good job. Remember even a your dog like a pat on the head sometimes good.

Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Someone who leads by example and holds themselves to to the highest levels. They make the hard decisions and do not balk at them. They live with the results of their decision and do not pass the buck. When possible, They actively listen with a clear mind without predisposed opinions and solutions.

What are the best traits in an authentic leader?

Integrity is one of the most important traits for leadership. It begins with your moral compass for character and personal conduct, a sense of right and wrong. People can take many things from you, but integrity is only something you can give away.