For many people, authenticity is a way of selling themselves to those around them, in order to get ahead in the corporate world. If you are open and genuine then people are more likely to follow your leadership or buy into your business ideas. It’s an art that many have attempted to master, but few have actually achieved. The fact of the matter is, whilst it’s all well and good being yourself, if others aren’t comfortable with the image you present, they aren’t going to choose you ahead of everyone else.
In essence, you need to understand that authenticity is less about the way you feel and more about the way you make your clients and associates feel. It doesn’t matter how genuine you appear to be, if they don’t think they can trust you then they aren’t going to connect with you. Most people want to be convinced their money is going into the right pocket. Prospective clients are far more likely to hand over their earnings if they believe you have their best interests at heart. Achieving true authenticity is never easy, but there are a few ways you can ensure you’re coming across to your colleagues and clients the way you want to.
Know Your Point Of View
Establishing a strong POV will make it easier for you to engage in open and articulate conversation. Speaking your mind on a number of subjects will help you demonstrate leadership and control. Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be flexible. People want to know that you have strong ideas, but also that you are willing to hear them out. You need to be able to challenge issues, whilst accepting other people’s perspectives.
Have A Position But Don’t Push it
The office can be a political minefield at times, but this doesn’t mean you should tiptoe around the edges. It’s okay to fall down on one side of an argument, as long as you don’t over position yourself. If you believe strongly in something, then make this clear, just be wary of pushing your ideas on people. Be transparent about what you are doing and why you are doing it. You are more likely to attract support if you are approachable and ready to sell your standpoint.
Reassess Your Influences
A lot of the time, we base our personal mantras on the people and events that have shaped our past. For example, if you grew up in a tougher school environment to others, you might have learnt to keep your head down and not entice trouble. This philosophy may have worked perfectly for you at the time, but it’s probably not having the same effect now. A leader needs to be willing to evoke change and confront challenges — something that you can’t do from the sidelines. Reevaluating your influences can help you understand why you react in a certain way and can help you strengthen your authenticity in the process.
By Chris Weston, Director of Aston Black Accountants.
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