What does it mean to be authentic in a business context? Many of us struggle with this question but few of us wear the process out loud. That’s what gurus are for. Watch Emily struggle out loud with how to be authentic. When was the last time you dropped your script? – InPower Editors
Whenever I get love notes here on the blog, it’s usually because I’m willing to be completely exposed.
Full on open kimono.
But the truth is, the page is easy.
Safe even.
What’s hard is exposing yourself in person.
I was reminded of this last week while attempting to make what I thought was going to be a simple video for you.
The lights were on.
The camera was rolling.
I was wearing my favorite blazer and talking about the six pillars of presence when suddenly….
“Fuck that pseudo-guru bullshit!!!” says the videographer as he turns off the camera and yanks out his earpiece.
“Excuse me?”
“No one cares what you’ve learned about mindfulness from your books. They care about what you know from your scars.”
After a moment of stunned silence, my attempt at a counter point was that the video we were making had to have “content.”
He looked at me like I’d insulted his grandmother and then proceeded with a slow and deliberate response.
“There’s a prepackaged corporate monster in you, Emily, and I really want her to die.”
Every word was articulated for emphasis, including the six that followed:
“You’ve got to ditch the script.”
Ugh.
Scripts.
Literal video scripts.
Metaphorical life scripts.
We cling to them because they feel like control when really they just make us look inauthentic.
In my head, I understand that.
Actually living it, however, is something different.
As I began to ramble on about why I needed a script to avoid rambling on, the videographer interrupted again.
“Let me ask you something,” he said, “Are you proud of what you’ve created so far?”
It was an interesting question, and I knew he was referring to my previous videos.
In videos – as in leadership – the inspiration is lost amid the quest for perfection.
Fair enough.
With that, I did end up releasing the script, although I wish I could tell you it was a poetic and liberating experience.
It wasn’t.
In fact, it sucked.
As it turns out, authenticity is way harder than control, which I suppose is because it’s way harder to actually feel than to plan.
I can’t say that I’m ready to fully let go of the script yet, but I do understand why they are so inherently demotivating both on screen and in person.
It one thing to have the books.
It’s quite another to have the scars.
