Authenticity at Work: Choose to Always Be Yourself with These 4 Steps

Posted on September 6, 2022By Terri Herrmann

“When I was 29-years-old I took over a huge job and became the reporter for Contact 6 – the on-your-side reporter problem-solver. Well, the man who had had the job before, Tom Hooper, was the “Ron Burgundy” of southeastern Wisconsin. I knew that Tom was tough. He didn’t take guff from anybody…and I was getting a lot of guff like being called “little lady” amongst other things that were really annoying me.

One day I decided to be a little bit more “Tom Hooper” because I was tired of being pushed around. I was doing a story on a plumber and said a few choice words to him during my interview. Well, that plumber did not like those choice words and went directly to my general manager and threatened to have the plumbers union strike the station.

You can only imagine how I felt! It was awful. I knew it wasn’t authentic to my character to treat anyone with disrespect. That day I decided I am never going to be Tom Hooper. I have got to be me. I have to show up at work as my authentic self and honor my own values. However, authenticity at work can be hard.”

– Katrina Cravy

What is workplace authenticity and why is it so hard?

Authenticity at work is when you feel free to comfortably show up as yourself in the workplace. Authentic team members use their voice and their values to create an ideal work culture and environment.

Choosing to always be yourself at work can be difficult. Often we think it is easier to just keep quiet and fit in because we are scared of who we are, or we do not want to be judged by others, or we are afraid of rejection or failure. However, authenticity at work benefits you and your organization.

How to Be Authentic at Work

Learning to be authentic at work may entail harnessing a variety of solutions that depend on your specific context or environment, but a handful of good rules of thumb include:

1. Go beyond features and functions.

Connect with others in an emotional way. Your ability to emotionally connect with others through effective storytelling will set you apart from others in your industry.

2. Express your opinions in an honest but positive and healthy way.

Not everyone is going to agree with what you say, but if you state it honestly and without paradox, they will have a much easier time accepting it.

3. Ensure your decisions align with your values and beliefs.

This is key – because by the time you get up to state your belief, many people will already have a pretty good idea of what it is. Statements from leaders that are seen to be contrary to what they already believe will be dismissed and you will be marked as ineffective. Learning to state what you think and then stand behind it, however gently, will raise your authenticity quotient, and people will respect that even if they disagree with the heart of what it is you are expressing.

4. Pursue the things that you are passionate about.

The best leaders are those who generate excitement and passion among their followers, and the best way to do that is to be authentically passionate about what it is you are pursuing. Maybe you are passionate about solving technical challenges, helping people, making a difference in the lives of people, or creating a healthier environment – whatever it is, make it a focus of your work and then go after it with everything you have.

Promoting Authenticity at Work

We know that relationships lead to revenue. At CharismaQ, we teach customer-facing teams to master the art and science of charisma, or the ability to attract, engage, motivate and influence those around you. One of the 6 key components of charisma is authenticity. When individuals feel free to be true to who they are at work, they feel empowered to drive real results.

Are you interested in creating a more authentic workplace? Our coaching platform was purpose-built to evaluate, coach, and create authentic people.

Authenticity at work has its perks!

Authentic, charismatic people help drive real results. Each team member can learn how to show up as their authentic self at work.