Your Authenticity in the 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 (CSPTM), 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.
