Those of us who went through Business School will remember courses such as Employee Relations, Business Communication, and Organizational Behavior. The modern-day Business School teaches us a lot of techniques to impress at an interview or outsmart competition in the workplace, but it completely strays away from one core principle of Management, authenticity.
Businesspeople once famed for their truthfulness and salient advice have become obsessed with greed. This attitude of pulling out all the stops for the bottom line has eventually led to the devastation of trust in the corporate world.
The good news is that those of us still willing to embrace authenticity can set ourselves apart from the rest. In fact, authenticity can have a huge part to play in your success. If you’re willing to take the risk of actually saying what you mean, isn’t there bound to be a person who is willing to take your words at their face value?
Whether its co-workers, staff, or your friends and family, everyone wants to know who they are dealing with. If you act authentically, you build trust with others.
Authenticity Does Not Start and End With What You Say!
Authenticity is not simply saying what you mean. Although that is a part of it, an authentic person is the one who is true to his or herself. This means that you live a principal driven life where your objectives are meaningful, clear, and where you live to serve, as well as spread, your core values.
People say that to let yourself be seen as vulnerable and flawed is authentic. I say authenticity is to know your imperfections and insecurities so that you can work on them and make yourself a better person. If your weaknesses are obvious, then the corporate raiders will tear you to shreds. However, if people can see you continuously plugging the leaks, becoming a better person, and perhaps even making fun of yourself and your flaws they will come to respect you.
Once you are true to your inner self, your authenticity will automatically display itself for everyone else. I am sure we have all met at least one person in our lives who absolutely dazzles us with their truthfulness, to the point where we believe everything they say. By being authentic with yourself, you have taken the first step to being that person for someone else.
Authenticity in the Workplace - Entrepreneurs
Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned veteran in your field, authenticity has a plethora of advantages. As an entrepreneur, pursuing authenticity helps you identify your principals and take responsibility for your actions. This way, your decision-making process is made much simpler as you can say no to anything that goes against the values of your organization.
This approach works because once you have identified the principals of your company; you can identify its goals next. You will have no need to motivate yourself to pursue the aforementioned goals since this is what you have always wanted to do. Once your goals are based on what actually matters to you as opposed to simple monetary or social gain, you will notice your business begin to take off.
Authenticity in the Workplace – Managers and Executives
Corporations are built upon ideas, and every single employee has something unique to contribute to the progression of that idea. Embracing authenticity is the easiest way to let your unique point of view spread.
Whether you are a Manager/Executive or hoping to be one someday, a value-driven, authentic lifestyle will help you naturally stand out from the rest and draw your co-workers towards you since you will actually have something to say that you can firmly stand behind. Organizations want someone with personality who can sway people to their way of thinking to lead their departments, and that is what you will be.
Principles and Values Based around Authenticity
Having continuously been barraged with instructions on adhering to your principles and values, you might be wondering what those words actually mean. Principles and Values are different from one another and can help define your actions.
The best way to define your values is to think of who you are in your dreams. In order to be authentic, you need to make sure that your values truly represent the limit of your potential. Find out what you want and figure out how to get it. Once you know that, you can move on to defining your principles.
Principles are rules based on the values that help you succeed. In order to be an authentic person, your principles should not deviate from your values. Once you make sure that everything that you do helps propel you towards the destiny you created for yourself, you are being true to yourself, and there is no higher form of authenticity than that.
After following the aforementioned advice, you do not need to think about being authentic while talking to someone since authenticity will become a part of your personality. With trial and error, you will be able to properly define your values and base your principles on those values so as to unlock your limitless potential.
Eventually, everyone else around you will be able to see you for who you really are, and your new authentic self will begin to pay dividends not only in your professional life but also your personal one. This is much better than trying to fake authenticity with your lips, as all fraudsters are eventually discovered for who they are and have to bear the consequences.
