All Companies of different sizes realize the importance of having a diverse workforce. According to studies, having people of various genders and cultures helps boost employee productivity and improve the effectiveness of their teams. In addition to attracting and retaining talent, having a diverse workforce also helps companies improve their bottom line.
At the individual level, being able to be yourself is more important than being “all things to everyone.” Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, people are more engaged and perform better when focusing on being themselves. Being authentic and genuine is also vital for leaders to create value for their organizations. This can be done through the encouragement and reward of these kinds of leaders. Being authentic is also essential for businesses to create value for their organizations.
According to studies, people who can be themselves are more likely to bring their whole selves to the job and participate in the company’s mission. Employees who are attracted to and follow authentic leaders are more likely to improve their performance and make their organizations stronger.
Be Real
Being authentic is also important in the areas of sexual orientation and gender. Throughout history, the corporate world has taught women to behave and dress like men. To get the attention they need, executives have trained women to negotiate “like a man.” They have also lowered their voices and avoided wearing feminine or frilly clothing to appear more masculine.
According to Barbara Annis, a renowned psychologist and founder of the Gender Intelligence Group, women are more likely to succeed if they can bring their whole selves to the job. She also stated that being authentic is essential for leaders to create value for their organizations.
An executive in a leadership position may be inauthentic, resulting in higher burnout rates and lower productivity. According to some researchers, inauthentic individuals may be as much as 20% less productive than employees who are comfortable with being themselves.
Inauthentic leaders can also negatively affect businesses’ trust with their employees and customers. According to some studies, people who cannot be themselves are likelier to feel they have a misleading or incomplete picture of their personal life. This can lead to a lack of trust in working relationships.
Be Courageous
Leaders can also encourage their employees to be authentic by showing them their authentic selves. This can help create a more welcoming and productive work environment. By sharing their personal experiences and talents, employees are more likely to take risks and contribute to the company’s success.
To create a more authentic work environment, leaders must first become themselves. This can be done through the encouragement and reward of these kinds of leaders. Instead of being viewed as an all-powerful and all-knowing individual, business executives should be able to show their vulnerability.
According to Brené Brown, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston, being in a relationship requires a certain amount of vulnerability. In her TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” she discussed the importance of being in a relationship with others.
Inauthentic leaders can also negatively affect businesses’ trust with their employees and customers.
Despite the various advantages of being inauthentic, it can be very challenging to overcome cultural preferences that prevent invulnerable leaders from being able to exhibit their authentic selves. Leaders must also be ready to change their ways of doing business. Leaders who fully embrace their authentic selves can realize tremendous rewards.