Is authenticity overrated?
Nowadays, the internet is flooded with articles about authenticity, and its value at the workplace.
There are over 500 million results for ‘being authentic at work’ in Google. And here I am questioning it because I don’t think it’s a viable option for most professions.
Let me explain it through an example…
Let’s say your car broke down. You need a mechanic, immediately. You managed to get your car to a mechanic. A mechanic who just got dumped by their partner…and the mechanic tells you that they don’t feel like fixing your car because they are in a bad mood. This is authenticity. While you, as a customer, don’t want authenticity, you want your car to be fixed right now. You don’t care about the mechanic’s bad day…you want the mechanic to be professional, not authentic. Let it sink in, and think about it. Really think about it.
Think about your own experience at your workplace. Have you ever tried to be truly authentic at work? How was it perceived? What if you would have been authentic when there was a conflict at work? What if you truly showed your feelings…
