Is authenticity dead?

For years we have heard about the importance of authenticity in leadership. I have worked in organisations where I have been told I’m too authentic and that I need to tone parts of myself down and I have worked in others where ‘bringing my whole self to work’ enabled me to thrive.

Authenticity is tricky and chatting to Advita Patel and Trudy Lewis after thought-provoking keynotes at the IABC World Conference has made me wonder about the whole concept.

Advita had heard a recent speaker at the Manchester Comms Hero event talk about authenticity not necessarily being a good thing and that being genuine was far more important.

This conversation rumbled on over the week as we explored how we use social media, what it means to be a leader and being our own selves at work.

Genuine feels right. Even as I explore my ‘personal brand’ I will not put on an armour to please others. I will always be genuine. To me this is different to being authentic. If you know me, you know I can be blunt and challenging. If I was authentic I would probably be this way all the time but I feel like being genuine is more about being you in the right context.

To be genuine for me is to care. Sometimes I care too much about a topic or a person, but that is a genuine emotion I carry with me everywhere.

So as I work with and advise business owners and leaders of teams about their leadership style, I’m going to focus in on being genuine. Where your purpose lies, the genuine behaviours should follow.

What do you think? Authentic or genuine?

About the author:
Internal Communications
Jenni Field

Jenni Field is an expert in leadership credibility and internal communication.

Host of the popular Redefining Communications with Jenni Field podcast and author of Influential Internal Communication, and Nobody Believes You, her work as an international speaker and coach, helps leaders and their organisations become more efficient and more engaging.

After spending 13 years working inside organisations as Head of Internal Communications and Communications Director, Jenni set up the consultancy Redefining Communications to help organisations and teams use communication to go from chaos to calm.

Since 2017 Jenni has published two books, hosted two popular podcasts that discuss leadership, communication and wellbeing and conducted research into communication with deskless workers, the role of line managers and why we follow some leaders and not others.

In 2020 she was the President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and she holds qualifications and accreditations in internal communication, company directorship and facilitation.

She is an impressive speaker, inspiring leader and is globally recognised in the communication industry as a force for change in the way leaders and organisations as a whole communicate with their teams.

You can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram

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