Soft Skills: On Authenticity
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are” - Carl Jung
A few years ago I wrote about transformation and leadership on my WordPress page. I didn’t have the language to identify it then, but what I was sharing was the journey of becoming who I was meant to be.
In that writing I offered the following:
When I am in service to others I am being me.
When I am practicing the best version of myself I am being me.
When I am present to my surroundings and how I show up in a space I am being me.
When I am sharing my most precious gifts with the world I am being me.
I realized after presenting authenticity in my Soft Skill Series on LinkedIn that so much of what I was writing 4-5 years ago was a precursor to training soft skills. I am a believer that our steps are ordered. There are no accidents.
Authenticity is an essential soft skill. I wouldn’t go so far as to position it as number one, but it’s up there.
But, what does it even mean to be authentic? Why should we care about authenticity? What does it have to do with leadership?
Authenticity is derived from the Greek word “Authentikos”, which means “principal or genuine”. It also means:
Accurate or reliable.
(Or in regards to existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.
I appreciate how Psychology Today outlines it in that authentic people understand their motivations. I would also offer that authentic people connect and engage fully.
Research suggests that authentic leadership is a predictor of an employee's job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and workplace happiness. Some scholars subscribe to the the notion that authenticity means “unfiltered”. For that reason they are at odds about whether authentic leadership is desirable and what it means in terms of how one behaves. Despite the differing theories, authentic leaders are generally seen as genuine and an all around benefit to the organization.
Authenticity is about presence, self-acceptance, and living in the moment with conviction. It’s intimacy apart from romance. It’s transparency.
In my experience, authentic leadership and full self expression have been two of the greatest accomplishments in my career. Authenticity allowed me to build strong relationships and connections. Being clear about who I was gave way to seeing others in their greatest possibility. I described in my previous writing, my experience of having someone turn on a light in a room where I didn’t know darkness existed. “Since then all I can see is that light…” is still a true statement for me as it relates to authenticity. That was part of my INSIDE JOB.
Authenticity allows me to appreciate my rough edges and raw finishes. When I am authentic, I tap into the beauty and symmetry all around me. I am grounded and grateful for how my past prepared me for here and now.
I look forward to what authenticity will inspire in your INSIDE JOB.
For now, I leave you with these questions.
How do you display authentic leadership in your organization?
What does your authentic expression look like?
