Bring your real self to work. It will make a real difference
I was a mid-level associate, around the time I was turning thirty, and I realized I wasn’t really very happy at work. I was stepping up to lead some great deals – hard work, long hours, but it was rewarding, so it wasn’t that; and I was working in a great team and in a law firm which had a strong, collegiate culture – on paper, everything should have been amazing. But when I took a step back, I realized I wasn’t being myself in the workplace. This wasn’t actively the “fault” of the environment I was in at the time; I think it was very much on how I thought I needed to be perceived – particularly, how I thought I needed to be perceived to be a success and to hopefully make partner. Whether that was in what I wore to work or how I explained away my social life (limited as it was!), I wasn’t being authentic. I realized this was becoming a barrier to both my professional achievements and personal growth.
From the point of this realization, I have always tried to bring my authentic self to work. It has taken time, and wasn’t (and isn’t!) always easy, but I think it has been the key to opening many doors, enjoying “the job,” becoming a respected leader, and ultimately winning success with clients. As a leader, I feel very strongly that it is key to create a culture – and to model that culture – where any team I am leading can bring their best, most authentic self to work. This requires a team where respect is paramount and where we celebrate our differences as much as our professional successes and similarities. I have found that fostering a culture where you can “be yourself” genuinely does bring out the best in people – you learn true personalities, develop true understandings of each other, and hopefully create a culture where everyone is comfortable to lead with their strengths. It also helps with openness when we are having the “bad days,” as we all do.
Being authentic doesn’t mean pouring your heart out every day at work or sharing intimate details of your weekend; it is just about being able to be “you.” As a leader, drawing out that strength in team members is the most important step for me when creating and fostering success. At whatever stage you are in your leadership journey, I urge you not to be afraid to bring your authentic self to work or to allow others to bring theirs.
