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Can You Be Professional While Presenting Authentically?

Being authentic in the workplace involves being true to yourself and presenting your genuine thoughts, feelings, and personality to others. Here are some tips for how you, as an HR leader can reconcile the two.

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Sep 15, 2024
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Last updated on May 15, 2023

A Harvard Business Review article released in 2022 highlights the importance of authenticity in the workplace and how it can positively impact one's career and overall well-being. It's no secret that when we try to be someone we're not, it can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of disconnection. This is particularly tricky to navigate

 

By embracing authenticity and being true to yourself, you can create a more fulfilling and satisfying work experience. Additionally, it can lead to better communication and collaboration with your coworkers, and a more positive workplace culture overall. Encourage your team members to embrace their authentic selves and to never be afraid to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table.


Being authentic in the workplace involves being true to yourself and presenting your genuine thoughts, feelings, and personality to others. Here are some tips for being authentic in the workplace. 

💡Know yourself: Take time to understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, and what matters most to you. This self-awareness will help you make decisions that align with your authentic self.

 

💡 Build relationships: Connect with others and build relationships with your coworkers. This can help you feel more comfortable being yourself and sharing your authentic thoughts and feelings.

 

💡Be honest: Be honest about your strengths and limitations, and don't be afraid to admit when you need help. This transparency can help build trust and foster a positive work environment.

 

💡 Embrace your unique qualities: Bring your unique qualities and experiences to the workplace, and don't be afraid to share your perspective. This diversity of thought and experience can lead to more creative and innovative solutions.

 

💡 Listen and learn: Be open to feedback and willing to learn from others. This can help you grow both personally and professionally, and can also help to build trust and respect with your coworkers.


Bottom line is it is important to be yourself at work but to respect professional boundaries. 

Showing Up Well and With Professionalism Requires Taking Care of You

Keeping that authentic professionalism requires really being centered in who you are and taking time for mental and physical well being. HR leaders often sacrifice their own care as they hold space for others both in their organizations and in their personal lives. But there are some easy ways to start taking care of your mental health at home so you can show up authentically at work.

3 Tools To Start Taking Intentional Care Of Your Mental Health:


🤳🏼 Stop Scrolling: Self-care is correlated with spending less time on your phone. The University of California posted an article that stated “after getting distracted from a notification it takes up to 23 minutes to get back in the zone!” Therefore, if you spend less time on the endless scroll you will have more time to finish your to-do list. 

Limiting your screen time also helps with the endless game of comparison that comes when looking at someone else's highlight reel. 

 

☀️ Movement/Nature: When you nourish your body with healthy food and exercise, you produce more serotonin which is related to feelings of confidence, and help you build your self-esteem. The European Centre for Environment & Human Health led a study of over 20,000 people and found that people who spent two hours a week outdoors or in a natural environment were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t. They don’t call fresh air nature’s medicine for nothing!

 

🤍 Confide in a Loved One: Talking about your mental health can bring you a sense of relief and feelings of support. People want to help and see you happy and are likely to be able to think of solutions that you can't.


For more tips, you can find Samara @mindfulnessmatters on Instagram.



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