David Howard, associate professor of management at the University of South Florida, offered some practical tips on how people can remain authentic in the workplace.
1. Do what you say. Communicate when things change.
There’s nothing that causes trust to erode faster than if you say there’s something
you’re going to do, and then you don’t do it.
Authenticity is "kind of" an internal state. Others observe you, and they’re making
an inference on your authenticity. Sometimes, you do say ‘yes’ to things and then
circumstances or priorities change. Make sure you follow up and communicate when commitments
change.
2. Be self-aware and professional.
Being authentic does not mean operating without a filter. A lot of people see authenticity in the workplace as, ‘I’m just being me.’ But you just being you at your house with your family or in isolation by yourself is one thing. Being authentic in the workplace is about being a professional. The most authentic leaders have clear recognition of who they are and are very self-aware of how they come across within the workplace.
3. Be transparent.
It’s not enough to just be transparent in communication. You also need to be able to explain the ‘why’ behind the decision. There are cases where you don’t have that information, or you aren’t able to give that information. Make yourself available to answer all the questions, especially for people who can negatively be impacted by a change. It builds trust with your team.
4. Be introspective.
Reflect on who you are and how you want to be perceived as an individual. There’s nothing more taxing on an individual than being someone that you’re not or someone that others want you to be. You’re living a lie, and you have to be that every day. Once you set that precedent, it’s an act you have to do the rest of your career.
5. Connect with others.
Everyone has parts of themselves that make it difficult to be authentic. When you can think about what it’s like to be in another person's shoes, the world and the workplace would be a better place. It can be very difficult to be authentic in the workplace because there are so many stigmas associated with so many things in our society. Connect with employee resource groups and find individuals who can be your allies for support.