Authenticity, your inner power
Do you get the feeling that people aren’t seeing the best of you?
Who is that amazing you? That person who speaks clearly, with confidence and in a way connects to the people around you? That person who leads and influences others, who enables positive change and achieves huge goals.
It is you!
“It takes courage and strength to be empathetic, and I’m very proudly an empathetic and compassionate leader. I am trying to chart a different path, and that will attract criticism but I can only be true to myself and the form of leadership I believe in.”
As Jacinda Arden steps down as Prime Minister I believe that she can be proud of doing leadership, “her way”. But beyond admiring her, do we do that ourselves?
Rather than looking within ourselves to find inspiration and motivation, we are tempted to compare ourselves with others. For example trying to be more charismatic, more extroverted or less emotional, less enthusiastic than we are.
Comparison moves us out of connection with ourselves and others, we move away from what we really want and what makes us happy.
We describe authenticity with words like real, honest, truthful, integrity, actual, genuine, essential, verified and sincere.
When we are authentic, there is an alignment between how we present ourselves and how we naturally are.
CONNECTION
Being more connected to yourself can help you to be more connected to others.
“There is power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice ”
Leaders who bring out the best in others out through motivation, purpose and growth, do so because people connect with them. They know and like them and they trust them. This is a basic marketing principle, that people are more likely to buy from those they know, like and trust. The same can be applied to any leadership goals you have and it starts with how they know you, the real you.
“Be so completely yourself that everyone around you feel safe to be themselves too”
What does the real you sound like?
What is inside you waiting to get out?
What are the values that you care so much about that you can not help talking about them. Here are some questions to guide you:
1) Take time to think, why are you talking? What is your goal?
2) Talk about things that are important to you. What are your core values that are triggered? What problems matter to you? What problems do you want to help solve?
3) Connect with the message you have to share. Connect with the emotion, need or sensation you are trying to get across. Connect to the person, make them feel special, heard and valued.
4) Listen to your body. If you feel stressed about talking, start by putting your hand on your belly and take a breath, change your posture, slow down and get present. Be in the here and now. What matters today?
5) Get feedback, how do other people see you? What did they connect with? What is most believable and powerful about your story?
A final note of encouragement - keep going, it might be hard to put yourself out there. It takes courage and vulnerability but the gift of being truly seen for who you are is priceless!
