Being genuine and authentic are much under rated qualities in the modern workplace however they are the foundation and essential to everything that underpins every success story.
I recently had the pleasure of delivering a keynote talk, the remit for which was to inspire people to change, create change and be open to change, in the field of inclusion and acceptance of others. The fact that such a talk was required highlights the realisation that such humanity is required but perhaps has been given lip service before without much action to bring it about.
Throughout my adult life I have been unable to act in any other way. Yes, it has sometimes left me exposed to machinations or being taken advantage of by others however I still prefer to remain the way I am. I treat everyone I meet as though they do too and are being genuine and authentic with me in return. It is with some sadness that I admit perhaps this is not always a universal truth. However, what does gladden my heart is that there appears to be a shift back towards these ideals and the honest desire to now promote individualism and caring towards people as human beings, certainly within the financial sector I work in.
As one of my audience members put it: “The sharing of your experience has been truly authentic and this is not something that people can fudge. You have to be an authentic caring individual to have the desire to put your personal experience at the service of a wider community, to give people reassurance, strength, and hope. You have made me smile and cry in short distance and I felt very much alive!”
Being genuine and authentic is a strength
And there is the crux. Revealing your genuine and authentic self is not a weakness, it is a strength. It is not something to be feared but something to be celebrated. Humanity comes in all shapes and sizes and exposing your true self can be scary but the more you do it, the more ‘human’ you are, the easier it gets and the more people will respond positively towards you.
The next time someone asks you; ‘how are you’ don’t just reply ‘fine’. If it’s a good, or indeed bad day, tell them and why that is. More importantly if you are the person asking listen to what the other says and if it’s appropriate perhaps offer a cup of coffee or a shoulder to lean on. Take the time to appreciate each other as people and see them as a fellow human being with the same feelings, problems and desires as yourself.
We all want to be ‘successful’ (however you may measure that term) but sometimes it is forgotten that being genuine and authentic is actually a short cut towards that goal.