Authenticity is the key to long-term success – especially in corporate America.
That was the message delivered by Carla Harris, a managing director for the global financial firm Morgan Stanley, to more than 200 women at this week’s Women’s Forum at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
And it was a theme that was threaded throughout the all-day dialogue, from the remarks of Steve Sanger, chairman and chief executive officer; and Ken Powell, president and chief operating officer; to the banter of three General Mills “hosts” lounging in a teal- and cocoa-colored living room-style stage; to the earthy wisdom of Scotland-born Caroline Sami, founder and chief executive officer of her own corporate training company, ID:ology; to the personal journeys of three General Mills women leaders.
Authenticity, defined similarly by all the speakers, means uniting who you are with who you appear to be. And while Harris and others detailed the benefits of being genuine in the workplace – such as better focus and a better on-the-job attitude – they also acknowledged that it requires effort and trust to make it happen. And that there’s a potential cost for not being authentic.
To illustrate, Harris described a Latina woman who consciously suppressed her heritage – accent, clothes and mannerisms – at work. When she was overlooked for an international-focused position, her supervisor responded, “I didn’t even know you spoke Spanish.”
Beyond the self-awareness and courage that authenticity requires, it also can be fostered by the work environment -- from the top down, beginning with the recruiting process. “Remind all your new hires, from the beginning, about the unique characteristics they possess that made you say ‘yes’ to them,” said Harris. And then follow up, she continued, suggesting the importance that mentors, sponsors and managers have in encouraging unique qualities and strengths.
Rather than limiting yourself, Harris coached the audience to use passions and an expect-to-win attitude to encourage yourself -- and others -- to bring the best self to work, every day.
Published on Thursday, April 19, 2007
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I agree with Carla Harris' view that self-awareness and courage are essentials for successful leaders in corporate America. So many decisions at the executive that level that exhibit a lack of either are apparent every day. Normally, these weak decisions are explained away as based on politics or the company's best interest, but are not many founded in a lack of courage to overcome politics or an executive's best interests instead of the company's? Authenticity is a good word to describe the rare combination of self-awareness and courage. Many of us have worked at companies where we are disappointed or unimpressed with those at the top. It seems as if the good leaders are long gone by that point and executives in charge are simply those who are left. However, occasionally there are those who authentic and many who work for them very much appreciate their humility and courage.
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