Unveiled: The Pursuit of Authenticity, 2024 and Beyond
The Odyssey Within Every Decision
As the New Year prompts us to reflect upon our visions and set aspirations for the upcoming year, it becomes paramount to remind ourselves to have the courage to remain true to our authentic selves. From this comes the authentic courage to adhere to our purpose in work and life, regardless of setbacks and distractions. In a world where social media metrics often dictate the worth of our actions — likes, hearts, emojis, and comments — maintaining alignment with our true selves might appear to be a nearly insurmountable challenge. Amidst the many influences dictating who we should want to be, how do we hold on to authenticity?
Unlocking our true selves involves a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness. Choices resonating with our core values will feel empowering, exciting, and joyful. This approach is also the foundation of our ‘Unwind with Unveiled’ cohort experience, recognizing the courageous but arduous path of staying authentic, especially for underrepresented groups.
Research demonstrates that authenticity is not a simple concept due to the reality that the most powerful groups set society’s implicit expectations of what authentic looks like, particularly nuanced by gender norms. The path to authenticity for men was through self-knowledge, whereas for women, it was through external approval. Consequently, virtue for a man was about his action whereas virtue for a woman was about others' opinions of her.
Understanding these entrenched ‘norms’ can empower women and other underrepresented groups to liberate themselves from subconscious expectations, redirecting focus toward what truly matters to them.
5 steps to aid your exploration towards living your true self:
Self-Reflection: Dedicate time to examine your beliefs, values, strengths, weaknesses, and desires. Engage in journaling or meditation to delve into your thoughts and emotions.
Authenticity and Self-Acceptance: Embrace your uniqueness, imperfections and all. Being genuine means resisting societal norms and embracing who you truly are. Celebrate achievements and forgive yourself for missteps.
Mindfulness and Awareness: Cultivate mindfulness to stay present and understand your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This awareness guides choices aligned with your values.
Authentic Connections: Surround yourself with those who accept you for you. Authentic relationships foster an environment where you can be yourself without fear of judgment.
Setting Boundaries: Establish healthy boundaries that honor your values and needs. Upholding these boundaries is crucial, especially in challenging situations. A failure to set boundaries is a primary cause of burnout which is known to take a heavier toll on women than men.
The journey to uncovering and unleashing your true self is ongoing and unique to each person. It requires dedication to self-discovery, self-compassion, and continual growth. Whether you are breaking barriers at a senior level or playing the role of a sponsor for someone, especially from underrepresented groups, it is important to be thoughtful about differentiating between authentic actions and authentic leadership to avoid the trap of potential biases creeping in.
As a sponsor for someone from an underrepresented group, take these 4 steps to focus on authentic actions:
Narrative of Authentic Leadership: Normalize focus on authenticity of actions vs labels. What are the leaders doing to influence aspects such as intersections of identity, cultural differences, and structural conditions that opens up a person’s ability to speak out in the workplace?
Feedback and Development: Constructive feedback from a sponsor can offer insights for improvement or strategies to leverage strengths, fostering personal and professional growth. Authentic actions are an ongoing process, and sponsors can provide candor in particularly complex situations.
Building Confidence: A sponsor’s vocal belief in a person’s potential can fortify their confidence, empowering authenticity.
Accountability and Challenge: Sponsors should also challenge in a safe space to explore beyond the comfort zone, encouraging personal growth and unveiling unexplored passions and strengths.
Fundamentally, a sponsor serves as a supportive but candid guide, urging others to develop the courage to be faithful to their authenticity. Their mentorship, advocacy, and support significantly aid in unlocking and expressing one’s true identity, both personally and professionally.
As we step into 2024, reflect on your journey, engage with sponsors and mentors , stay attuned to insights received, and act on what resonates.
Authenticity occurs by intent, not accident.
Cheers and joy to all of you this new year! May it be a year of self-discovery, growth, and authentic living.
Author Credit: Wanda Shoer is a senior executive, strategist, and thought leader in the healthcare industry. She is a value based, driven leader, committed to empowering and supporting others on their career journey. Wanda is a proud Latina of Dominican descent and lives in NJ with her loving husband and two children.
Editor Credit: Dr. Swasti Gupta-Mukherjee is a professor, thought leader, and educator in finance, with expertise in financial markets and sustainable finance. Recognized globally for her award-winning course 'Finance for a Sustainable World,' she leads initiatives on financial inclusion and climate resilience while actively contributing as a consultant and public speaker in finance and sustainable development.