Stop Faking It: Why Authenticity Wins Every Time
Here’s the deal: people can smell inauthenticity from a mile away – actually 10 miles away. Whether it’s the polished-to-death email, the corporate voice in a meeting, or the nod-and-smile routine when you’re totally lost – we’ve all done it, and we’ve all spotted it.
But authenticity – being real? That’s where the real magic happens. Not just because it feels better, but because it actually works.
Why Authenticity Actually Matters
Authenticity builds trust. Period.
Trust is the currency of every single relationship that matters—at work, at home, at the coffee shop with your barista who knows your order by heart.
If people believe you mean what you say, they listen. If they believe you’re being honest, they engage. If they think you’re blowing smoke? Goodbye credibility, goodbye impact.
Nick Morgan, a communication expert I admire, calls authenticity the leadership trait that inspires people to follow you. Not because they have to. Because they choose to. And that’s the difference between compliance and real buy-in.
What It Looks Like to Be Real (Without Oversharing)
Being authentic doesn’t mean dumping your diary on your team. Please don’t do that.
It means being clear, being consistent, and showing up as the same person in every room. If you don’t know something? Say so. If you changed your mind? Own it and explain why. That’s what builds credibility.
Authenticity + Competence = Trust.
Leave either one out and you’re sunk. You don’t have to pretend you’re perfect—you do have to be honest and follow through.
The Payoff: Psychological Safety and Performance
When you’re real with your team, something amazing happens: they feel safe being real with you. That’s called psychological safety, and it’s a game-changer.
People who feel safe bring better ideas. They speak up sooner. They collaborate more. They recover faster from conflict. And they’re actually happier doing their jobs.
Pretending to be someone you’re not takes energy. Everyone feels it. Everyone resents it. And it slows everything down.
Authenticity Online? Even More Important.
Let’s talk digital authenticity. If your emails sound like a robot (or AI) wrote them or your social media is dripping in buzzwords, you’re not connecting. You’re performing.
People can tell. The most effective digital communicators are the ones who sound like actual humans. Who respond. Who share real thoughts. Who don’t use stock photos of people high-fiving in conference rooms (seriously, stop).
So drop the jargon. Write like you talk. Be responsive. Be real.
5 Ways to Communicate More Authentically
Know your values – if you don’t know what matters to you, neither does anyone else.
Listen actively – don’t wait to talk. Actually hear people.
Be transparent (within reason) – honesty wins. But remember: the office isn’t therapy.
Be consistent – words and actions should match. Every time.
Adapt to context – be yourself, but read the room. The you on the pool deck isn’t the you in a board meeting (we hope).
Final Word
Authentic communication isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential. It builds trust, creates clarity, and moves people.
So cut the performance. Ditch the corporate mask. Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
Be real. Because everything speaks. And if you’re faking it? That speaks loudest of all.
Check out Lee’s podcast episode on the topic here!