PE 5: Be Yourself — With an Asterisk

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This may be my most controversial topic so far. It’s important to “be yourself”; for example, too many people become too formal or awkward when they stand at a podium, or “kiss up and kick down.”

But it’s also possible to overdo the authenticity idea. If authenticity is about being honest and true to yourself, I’m all for it, but if should not mean communicating the same way to all people and in all situations, being “brutally honest”, or being fully transparent.

Why not? Keep these asterisks in mind:

·         It’s impossible to know who the “real you” is

·         It’s immature

·         It violates outside-in thinking principle

·         It’s ineffective

So, what should you do about it?

·         Practice thoughtful authenticity

·         Be natural without showing all your imperfections

·         Adapt your style to the other person: drivers, expressives, amiables and analytics

·         Fake it ‘til you make it

·         Be respectful at all times  without being servile