The Art of Being Yourself: How Authenticity Builds Trust
Authenticity in business and in life has always been something that I encourage - both in my clients and in myself - authenticity builds trust and trust strengthens reputations. I believe that it is better to be genuine and who you really are than a fake version of what you think others will like. When it comes to business; brands and entrepreneurs can only keep up facades for so long, when things go wrong the truth always comes out and the impact on credibility can last a lifetime. When it comes to individuals, aside from the fact that having to hide your true self is exhausting, the truth is that not knowing who you really are can be a burden, blocking you from progress and growth. Now don't get me wrong it is not always easy to "just be yourself" many spaces are designed to keep up a certain level of the status quo, some spaces bring out the impostor syndrome in us and some spaces simply do not deserve to have all of us (giving 100% of ourselves can be draining in spaces that do not appreciate authenticity).After watching this amazing TedTalk video "The art of being yourself" by Caroline McHugh recently I learnt a greater understanding of what it really means to be yourself. Think about the number of times that you have felt the need to change who you are to fit in or dim your light to make others more comfortable. Then take the time to think about the people who you admire, who are doing amazing things in their lives:
These are individuals who have managed to figure out the unique gift that the universe gave them when they incarnated, and then put that at the service of their goals. I think that we all come complete. We come complete with one true note we were destined to sing, and these are people that have managed to figure that out. And it doesn’t dictate your choice of job; what it dictates is how you do it. - Caroline McHugh
Watch this video and please share your thoughts and experiences - learning how to truly be yourself is a journey but it is worth it.