Being an influential player in organizational change demands the expression of an authentic self. A person cannot be authentic on his or her own. Authenticity is a quality that others must attribute to you. This article explores the qualities of authentic leadership. Reflections on authentic leaders contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between the expression of self and the exercise of leadership. Establishing your authenticity as a leader is a two-part challenge. First, you have to ensure that your words are consistent with your deeds; otherwise, followers will never accept you as authentic. The second challenge of authentic leadership is finding common ground with the people you seek to recruit as followers. This means you will have to present different faces to different audiences. Establishing your authenticity is based on three pillars: getting to know yourself and your origins, get to know others and connect to the organizational context. Leaders who know how to manage their authenticity will be all the more effective, better able to both energize and retain loyal followers and players in changing organizations.