I am fascinated with the concept of authenticity, and in particular, authentic leadership. To be authentic, we must have a deep understanding of our strengths, our values, and our signature contributions. Authenticity is about self-discovery, accepting yourself for who you are, while also having a growth mindset. It’s about being yourself, with skill. We must be both true to ourselves but also relate effectively within a demanding context. Being an authentic leader requires practice, introspection, and practice, practice, practice. Here is an exercise you can use to practice and reflect on new skills and behaviors:
- Try a new behavior or skill!
- On a scale of 1-10 how well did you perform this behavior or skill?
- How did it make you feel?
- What would you do differently?
- What did you learn?
- Where else could you use this new behavior or skill?
- Repeat.
I’m celebrating my authentic self, and practicing self-care, through my red Vespa! If you talk to me anytime soon, there is a 90% chance I will insert this in our conversation. You want to talk about strategy, did you know I have a Vespa. You want to hire someone; I have a red Vespa! I’m learning to have fun, let go, and celebrate what makes me special, quirks and all.
Practice authenticity.
Celebrate who you are, quirks and all!
For more information on authenticity, I highly recommend The Art of Authenticity by Karissa Thacker.
