Authenticity begets Authenticity
“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.”
– Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (novel) (1994)
When I ask others to think of someone they know that they see as authentic, and describe the traits of that person, many of the answers are remarkably consistent:
Comfortable in their own skin
Always themselves
Express themselves naturally
Confident
Unapologetic
Say what they mean
They’re just real
Most would agree these are traits that we respect, even if some people’s ‘real’ might not be our cup of tea. In business, where conformity is often seen as safe and accepted, we all need to adapt a bit. But our cup of teas taste a bit bland as we’re little conditioned to hold a bit of who we are to compensate. We tend to be more ‘real’ with close work friends and peer levels, but we tend to suppress our natural expression to those in leadership above us. The higher up the leader, the more we consider the importance of our interactions.
This is why fostering authenticity is especially important as a leader.
Because when I’ve presented on authenticity to new joiners, they rightly question if I consider that it’s easier for me to say this stuff. The higher you go as a leader, the more ‘freedom’ one gets in their position to ‘be themselves’. I agree and have seen this my entire career. And it’s why the higher the role you have in an organization, the more you need to lean into helping people find their best selves at work. Foster this intentionally as a cultural norm that is celebrated.
Authenticity begets authenticity.
When everyone is ok with bringing more of what makes them a little weird, then no one is weird.
Two of many middle school yearbook entries. Being ‘funcomfortable’ was an early love language.