authenticity Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

22
Jan 20
-

Your Authenticity in the Workplace

Tags : authenticity career faux workplace

People grow tired of fake fast. At least, on the surface this seems like a reasonable statement. Authenticity in your job or for your career may matter more than you realize.

Is your brand promise authentic? What about your value proposition? In the job interview are you faking it, to make it?

Real or Faux?

Once upon a time the wooden dashboard in most automobiles was converted to plastic. Plastic with the look of wood grain.

There are vegan chocolate chip cookies. How are they different from the real thing?

We even have Impossible Whoppers and there are some emerging chicken nuggets or boneless chicken wings that contain no chicken.

Why?

In all of these cases the product is design to simulate something else. A fake, an imitation, and arguably not authentic. Are they as good as the real thing?

There are people who ride stationary bikes. Some argue, “Why would I want to do that?” The same is true for the treadmill, stair climbers, or video simulation. Are these products authentic or faux, and if so, in what way?

Authenticity Reality

There is a battle for the creation and production of items that simulate a real thing. The desire is to get it as close to the real thing as possible. Make the experience the same, while the truth is different.

It is either the blessing or the curse of imitation.

The burger, chocolate chip cookie, or treadmill may not be the same experience as what people are expecting.

It leaves the door open for the greatest value of all.

Authenticity.

An automobile with real wood, probably expensive, but some will argue worth it. Some people want to cycle outdoors, with real hills, valley’s, and sunshine, not a simulation. Plenty will suggest that if vegan is so good, why all of the imitation?

For the purpose of your work and for the purpose of your career, authenticity may be the difference between high value or lousy imitation.

Accepting a fake seems okay, sometimes, yet it is never as good as the real thing.

-DEG

Interested in leadership, communication, or workplace coaching as it relates to authenticity? Read more…

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

20
Jun 19
-

The Truth Behind Workplace Authenticity

Tags : authenticity coaching mentor role model style

Workplace authenticity may be considered a core value. Are role models and leaders authentic in your workplace? Do organizational politics play a role?

In a recent seminar someone suggested that flexing your style is not a desirable attribute since you are not being the real you. The discussion point centered around workplace leaders serving as coaches.

Do you occasionally serve as a workplace coach?

Workplace Coach

Being a good coach is not about show and tell. A good coach is effective at inspiring change through questioning techniques.

Questioning techniques of course involve good communication skills and when you are working with your boss, a peer, or a direct report every situation may be unique. This uniqueness is what may require you to flex your style.

In my opinion, flexing your style to accommodate a situation and make things better is not the same as playing politics, being fake, or lacking sincerity.

Workplace Authenticity

Flexing your style means that you are willing to put in the emotional labor required to help improve the situation.

If your style is somewhat brash and direct, that won’t work for every situation. If your style is softer and more empathetic, that probably won’t work for every situation.

Working hard as a workplace leader to master the skills required to be a good mentor and coach means that with practice it will be the authentic you. Don’t confuse a strong work ethic that places value on harmonizing the workplace with a lack of honesty, integrity, or authenticity.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

19
Jun 19
-

Heart Work Makes a Difference

Tags : authenticity heart work honesty workplace

Are you putting in heart work? This is what we do when we are honest, sincere, and work from our heart. Some may say, authentic.

At first you may have wondered if “heart work” was a typo. No, it is not a typo.

In the late 1980’s, I used a piece of scotch tape to adhere a little quote cut from a magazine to the side of my amber computer monitor. Although I don’t know who deserves the credit, the quote was something like this, “Be honest and work from your heart, when you love what you do, you’ll do a good job.”

I’ve never forgotten it.

Heart Work

Working from your heart makes a difference. It feels different to you and it looks, feels, and sounds different to your coworkers.

Recently, at the end of a speaking engagement an audience member asked me, “How do you recommend engaging people in your workplace for a change that they may not agree with?”

My immediate answer was, “You have to be compelling.”

I continued for a few minutes to describe that when you are behind something that you believe in and you’ve done your homework on the topic, it is easy to be compelling.

You believe it, you trust it, and it shows.

Fundamental Habits

This is a fundamental principle, at least for me. I believe this ignites a compelling message. When you memorize a response (different from homework) or strategize in advance for the perfect response, it sounds as it is, rehearsed.

As the years go by in my career, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for authenticity.

What about you? Are you doing the heart work?

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

25
May 17
2

Consistency Matters for the Customer Experience

Tags : authenticity consistency customer experience service trust

Have you ever wondered if consistency matters? In your customers’ eyes, consistency may be the only thing that keeps them loyal.

Yesterday I had lunch with a coaching client at one of my favorite pizza shops. Knowing that I frequented the shop, the client asked, “Is the pizza good here?” It hit me when I had to pause before answering. There is one significant problem with this pizza shop. It lacks consistency.

Customer Experience

Go to a McDonald’s, Burger King, or Pizza Hut anyplace you can find one. At any of these establishments, you’ll have the same or very similar quality of food. You can count on it.

You know how it will taste. The menu might be the same or very similar, and the ambiance will be identical.

Knowing what to expect matters and consistency may be why we shop, buy, or consume. Inconsistency brings on trust issues and the inability for the customer to recommend the quality.

During our lunch, I went on to explain that sometimes the pizza is fantastic, but other times it is just OK.

OK isn’t always good enough. It may be when the alternatives aren’t any better, but when you recognize that there are many lunchtime choices, this pizza shop may lose business.

Consistency Matters

Whatever your business is, trust in the notion that consistency matters.

Consistency may be why people shop, and it is certainly a big part of why they trust. Lack of consistency may signal problems. It detracts from the customer experience.

When organizational leaders or front-line employees don’t care enough to make it consistent, customers may not care enough to return.

The perceived value drops from exceptional to average, and average is available everywhere.

Authenticity and Loyalty

Loyalty may make a difference, but the ease of purchase somewhere else may outshine loyalty even on a good day.

If you work for a business, an organization, or an institution, is the output consistent?

Only when your output is consistent and original is your work good enough to be labeled authentic.

What is not authentic may be considered to be available anywhere.

The question then may become, “Are you loyal?”

No one needs to ask why.

– DEG

Consistency always matters. It is why I wrote this book:

#CustServ Customer Service Culture

Get it Now on Amazon

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Originally posted on May 25, 2017, last updated on December 23, 2018.

Tag Archives: authenticity

Jan 20

-

Your Authenticity in the Workplace

Real or Faux?

Authenticity Reality

Jun 19

-

The Truth Behind Workplace Authenticity

Workplace Coach

Workplace Authenticity

Jun 19

-

Heart Work Makes a Difference

Heart Work

Fundamental Habits

May 17

2

Consistency Matters for the Customer Experience

Customer Experience

Consistency Matters

Authenticity and Loyalty

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