I ran a session yesterday where we hosted a guest to share their story. It was powerful, not because it was carefully scripted, nor because it was accompanied by a PowerPoint deck, but rather because the audience deemed it to be authentic.
Whilst they had to work harder to find the meaning and connection, the narrative that was discovered proved valuable.
In my own research, when people are asked to illustrate ‘authenticity’, they most common visual metaphor is that of roots. The way that our story is grounded. ‘Real’ stories count for a lot, as we are at heart storytelling creatures.
Use your sixty seconds today to think about your own stories: which ones are polished, which ones are rough around the edges. What biography do you share, how do you explain your passions and fears? Do you use particular types of story in different spaces?
In separate research, people overwhelmingly describe that ‘authentic storytelling’ is the first thing they look for in a leader. So it’s worth us spending time to consider where authenticity lies.
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