The Wizard character in The Wizard of Oz movie was a con artist who fooled people with his lies and fakery. People thought he was “divine” because he descended from the sky in a balloon.

Deceitful manipulation is never authentic leadership. Authentic, principled, intelligent leaders are not “me-centric;” they put “we” before “me.”

Authentic leaders are guided by their values, seeking to understand people’s needs while encouraging open-minded communication, building trustworthy processes, and constructive consensus for the good of all.