Just Be Yourself

Authenticity.

It’s the word I hear most often used when folks ask how to be a better <insert position here>. But what does that mean?

According to http://dictionary.com, Authenticity is defined as the quality of being authentic; genuineness.

That’s not very helpful.

Didn’t anyone every tell you that definitions don’t work if you use the root of the word in the definition.

So let’s break it down a little more.

Authentic is defined as not false or copied; genuine; real: an authentic antique.

That’s a little better, though I think the synonyms help us understand the word even more:

• Credible
• Faithful
• True
• Trustworthy

But I find myself asking “To whom?”

To whom does credibility matter?

To whom must I be faithful?

To whom must I be true?

To whom must I be trustworthy?

In a word…

YOURSELF.

You must be all of this to yourself FIRST, and to other secondarily. If you don’t believe in your heart it’s true, then it can’t possibly be true for anyone around you.

Your team will smell your fakeness from a mile away. They won’t think you’re credible, they won’t think your trustworthy, and it’s doubtful they’ll think you being truthful with them.

JUST BE YOURSELF.

How can you be yourself?

Look inside yourself…

Understand who you are, what you stand for, what your values are, what your values aren’t.

This may take time.

That’s ok. It’s worth it!

Take the time you need to understand WHO you are, and what you stand for.

Ask yourself the tough questions.

Does what I’m doing RIGHT NOW matter to me?

Is this in line with my values? With my mission and vision for my life, my career, my team?

What do I find value in? What do I place value in?

Time? Talent? Discipline? Customer service? Responsiveness? Honesty?

No fair if you say authenticity :)

Just be yourself!

Look me in the eyes courtesy of paperchild