Authenticity
Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Copyright 1997-2008.Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.
- Ayn Rand, philosopher
The concept of authenticity has received a significant amount of attention recently as people search for meaning and happiness, particularly in their work lives. How one chooses to try to live more authentically depends on their own perspective on authenticity. Like many other popular concepts, different people have different views about authenticity and many people feel very strongly about their own views. Some people might assert that an individual is being authentic if they are being completely honest and participating in the here-and-now, eg, an honest conversation with a friend, completely focused on cleaning out the garage, etc. There are others who assert that authenticity involves many other features, including, eg, always being centered with themselves and others, living in a completely integrated fashion with their own values and principles, always feeling complete meaning or sense of purpose in their lives, etc.
The concepts of "authenticity" and "meaning" can seem almost the same. However, the major philosophical movement called existentialism has studied authenticity for centuries and helps us understand more abut what authenticity is, along with its relationship to the concept of meaning. Existentialists assert that if an individual is not living authentically in their lives, then they lose meaning and can fall into chronic anxiety, boredom and despair. People might pursue "quick fixes" to avoid the responsibility of living authentically, eg, quick fixes such as anesthetizing themselves with alcohol or drugs, living in fantasies, etc. Others might even assert that it's inauthentic to pursue any approach (programs, books, etc.) that promises to help people transcend (escape?) the responsibilities -- and sometimes drudgery -- of day-to-day living.
Regardless of others' perspectives on authenticity, it's important for people in management to live and work as authentically as possible -- a goal that is usually often difficult to achieve, particularly in large organizations. As mentioned above, how one chooses to live a more authentic life depends on their perspective. A person might choose to appreciate more their own current approach to life, or meditate on a regular basis, or journal (write down) their thoughts, or engage in regular retreats, or sign up for a more complete program, etc.
Various Perspectives
Most important outcome from coachingMarkers on the path to authenticity
Authentic Personal Branding
Living the Authentic Life
Becoming More Authentic: The Positive Side of Existentialism (for a philosophical perspective)
Looking for the Meaning of Life (semi-philosophical)
For the Category of Personal Wellness:
Related Library Topics
Recommended Books
General Information
The following books are recommended because of their highly practical nature and often because they include a wide range of information about this Library topic. To get more information about each book, just hover your cursor over the image of the book. A "bubble" of information will be displayed. You can click on the title of the book in that bubble to get more information, too.
Also See
Career Development -- Recommended Books
Interpersonal Skills -- Recommended Books
Personal Development -- Recommended Books
Personal Productivity -- Recommended Books
