We want to be authentic at work, but what does this really mean? Does it REALLY mean you can let your freak flag fly? It’s not that simple. Laurie gives us a thoughtful vision of what your authentic professional life can look like. Take a look. ~ InPower Editors
There is a lot of talk about authenticity these days.
“Be your authentic self.”
“Let your freak flag fly.”
“Remove your masks.”
That may be fine for creative entrepreneurs and your crazy cousin Summer who lives in Marin, but does it belong in the workplace?
Yes. In fact, authenticity is essential to being a high-performing leader, growing companies and your own fulfilling, high-energy life.
What Does It Mean To Be Authentic At Work?
I’m not suggesting you die your hair purple, or wear cut-offs or a Harley jacket to work. I’m also not suggesting you hug everyone, drop f-bombs or do needle point during meetings.
Authenticity is not a blunt instrument, but something deeper.
Authentic is defined as “of undisputed origin.” Authenticity therefore is to be of your undisputed origin. That means authenticity isn’t about what you wear or even your “personality.” Authenticity is who you are as a person at your core.
After years of trying to please others, be right, look good, be safe and many other things we work to do to “keep it together” and get ahead, it’s easy to draw a blank when posed with the question “who am I really?” It’s funny that this is such a hard question to answer. But face it we all come into the world in the same way. We are a unique, magical, biological amalgamation of DNA. Yet we strive to be different, special, loved, cherished, honored, and respected. In this effort to be something we are not, we lose touch with our authentic self.
Being authentic is about:
- dropping the judgments (about yourself and other)
- ending the tiresome pursuit to please others
- accepting there is enough to go around and you don’t have to fight others for limited resources
- recognizing you are good enough and you deserve respect (without demanding it)
- accepting that you everything you need within you
In short, being authentic is about being free and open enough to connect with others and to tap into your inner wisdom and energy.
Why Authenticity In The Work Place Is A Must
The success of your organization, your team and you depends on every employee, including yourself, being authentic.
I know this may sound a little woo-woo, but bear with me.
A workplace is made up of individuals. For that workplace to be successful and achieve the desired results, the individuals must work together and that means they must connect with each other. If you aren’t connecting with your co-workers you aren’t getting things done to your fullest potential. As Helen Keller says, “ Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Inauthenticity, on the other hand, breeds fear, fighting, and fatigue. Some of the price of inauthenticity in the workplace therefore is:
- less then maximum revenue growth
- unhappy customers and clients
- product defects and design flaws
- lost opportunities
- silos in which employees don’t communicate, collaborate or support each other
- employees or teams undermining each other
Companies spend thousands, if not millions of dollars, each year trying to get their employees to work better together. Yet they don’t address the heart of the matter and that is creating an environment that fosters authenticity. If you want a workplace where people collaborate, are energized, creative and innovative, provide excellent customer services and bring their best, start by being authentic.
How Can You Be Authentic At Work?
If you are not being authentic at work, it’s a scary idea to consider. I can tell you that the first time you are authentic it’s frightening.
The first time I was authentic at work was when I asked our CEO if I could present an analysis to the executive team of how we could create stronger client relations after we had a massive, costly failure. There were many reason I shouldn’t have done the analysis, much less presented it. For one, I wasn’t responsible for client relations. I also wasn’t on the executive committee.
Then there were the internal reasons I shouldn’t have boldly spent late night hours thinking about and creating the presentation. The internal reasons were all the internal conversations I was having:
Surely no one would listen to me. Who was I to be doing this analysis and presentation, I was just the lawyer and no one listens to lawyers? What if I step on someone’s toes? What if they thought my analysis was stupid or wrong and I got fired?
Here’s the thing about that negative chatter. It’s rarely right. None of that awful stuff happened, the presentation was well received and changes were made. A few years later I was even overseeing client relations.
Despite success stories, I find most people are still wary of speaking their mind and being authentic at work. The key to being authentic is quieting the voices in your head and speaking up with your ideas, your thoughts and your creativity. The key is taking a risk that you know better than the gremlin in your head.
Being authentic is no stopping even when you get shot down time and again. As the saying goes, if you don’t succeed, try again. Change your approach. But don’t give up.
How will you be authentic today and move you and your organization forward?
Take charge of your career development to get the job that supports your work and your life. Check out the tools and resources in the InPower Coaching Career Center.
