We buy from people we like and we hire people who will connect with our culture. Whenever we say “ she’s the ‘real deal’ ”, it instantly evokes a desire to want to be connected to that person. The bottom line is personal authenticity rules. In fact we seem to seek it out more than ever. While we navigate a world of brevity by communicating in texts, sound bytes and bullet points, we have simultaneously fostered more of a need to know each other as human beings having relatable experiences.
In regard to business, the dialogue has shifted from just answering about what you do but to what makes you tick, both on an off the field. However, many of us do not know how to present these honest aspects of ourselves. When given an opportunity, we might fumble over our answers, especially around the points in our story that cause us to feel vulnerable. As such, so much of what we do is tied into survival, which may blind us to the depth of our story. Survival may compel us to take actions like attend networking events and apply for jobs that move us up the ladder of success. But why did you choose the industry that you did? What made you gravitate towards one person over another at the chamber dinner? What underlying aspirations were touched?
Getting clear on these aspects of yourself, gives you a deeper awareness of what is important to you. This makes it easier to give words to your story that then engages others. We’ve all met people who showed us who they really are and had us believing in them. We’ve all taken action to help someone manifest an intention that resonated with our own. From the ASPCA to Apple, organizations have been built from telling the why-they-do-what-they-do story to their audience, but these stories all started with the personal.
Developing your story starts with shining a light inward and pulling out your truths. Below are 9 questions to get your started:
- What activities, places, ideas and other people give you energy?
- What are you doing when you are the most present? (In other words time and all distractions just fall away because you are so engaged.)
- What challenges have you faced and then felt proud for the way you handled them?
- What makes you feel great about yourself?
- What natural or developed knowledge, skills and abilities do you possess?
- What knowledge skills and/or abilities do you aspire to gain?
- What gives you peace?
- What values do you feel you live out daily?
- What vision do you have for yourself? For your part in the world?