Authenticity

by Aubrey Patterson

Are you beginning a new position, or aspiring to obtain one?

It can be challenging to straddle that fine line between being authentic and living up to the well-established expectations of those you serve.

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. - Mother Teresa

And it can be even more challenging when you have to take over from someone who is respected, loved, and did a great job, right?

Both Sides of Your Jersey

Most professional athletes proudly wear a team logo on the front of their jerseys and carry their surnames on the back.

For someone new to a position or organization, it's necessary to strongly support the logo on the front of the jersey, honoring the past and respecting the people who are present.

Staying true to the name on the back of your jersey is equally important. 

Inauthenticity is exhausting, but there's even more we risk if we create a work version of ourselves and leave behind who we are when we walk through the doors.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs

Authentic leaders are more appealing, operating calmly and connecting better with their teams. They understand the importance of staying true to themselves and encourage others to do the same. 

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