How to build your Authenticity

culled from:www.articlefactory.com
Following on from the discussion on managing your authenticity I started thinking about ways one can develop as an authentic leader and whether there were actual steps that could be followed to build your authenticity?

The roots of authenticity obviously begin with oneself but where it really starts to grow and become effective is in the interaction between you and others, as authenticity is largely defined by what other people see in you.  So in order to develop ones authenticity it would seem that it is a combination of learning more about oneself and also more about other people.

While there’s many ways to do this and each person has to take their own path, I read an approach which Rob Goffee and Garetth Jones outline, that I think is worth sharing.  Their approach is broken down into three parts:

*        Getting to know yourself and your origins better

*        Getting to know others better

*        Connect to the Organisation context better

I’ll cover the first aspect in this post and the other two in the next.

Getting to know yourself and your origins


Goffe & Jones speak about ‘exploring your autobiography’ – what people and experiences in your early life have had the greatest impact on you? What are your most deeply held values? How do they inform your actions? What motivates you? When are the moments you say to yourself this is the real me?

Going back to my roots – hard to say without adding the ‘yeah’ at the end :-) But when is the last time you spent some time where you grew up? Met up with old friends? Walked familiar childhood paths?

And seeing as I’ve now the Odyssey track playing in my head – zippin’ up my boots – try and step out of your normal routine or comfort zone, take a risk, make a choice you’d normally  avoid.

Don’t be afraid of feedback – honest feedback is extremely valuable, ensure you not only ask people for their feedback but also enable them give it i.e. just listen – don’t try and qualify or reply.

I’m sure we’d all agree that none of the above seem like very difficult steps – everyone should be able to do at least one of them today, but which one will you do?