Importance of authentic identity

Description:

Authenticity is a philosophical term. Although the term is used differently, all go back to the two basic meanings of the noun: 1) genuineness (realness) and 2) accuracy (truth, reliability)[1]. Authenticity refers to the way people, organizations and nations underscore their distinctiveness and uniqueness; it can also refer to the degree to which one is true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite external forces, influences and pressures [2]. In a more practical sense, we say that someone is authentic someone’s acts and words are congruent with someone’s thoughts and feelings. The inner and the outer voices are aligned. An authentic person is someone you can trust and whom you can rely on[3].

Today, authenticity has become a central focus of responsible behavior of leaders. Moral scandals by Enron (2001) and Ahold (2003) have lead to a redefinition of corporate responsibility and a focus on morality. Leaders must have the authentic capacity to balance responsibilities for private freedom and public obligation [4].

Authenticity has become an important competitive differentiator: we live in a world were companies can reach, acquire and serve more customers than ever before. But this reach and scale also can disintermediate companies from their clients. By acting authentically, companies can (re)gain the trust of their customers. Examples are: an open and honest attitude, speaking with a human voice and using employees’ and customers’ feedback to improve and innovate the business[5].

Enablers:

• Moral scandals evoke the need for authenticity

• Globalization

• Economies of scale

Inhibitors:

• Development of internet / global village: we can know everything from everyone. As a result, people might want to hide their true identity

• Fear: acting authentic makes vulnerable, people/leaders might see this as a threat/competitive disadvantage.

Paradigms:

1. In a rapidly changing and globalized world, it is important for companies and leaders to be authentic.

2. Trust and honesty are competitive differentiators

Timing:

• Ancient Greece: Socrates is one of the first to stress the importance of authenticity. Quote: ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’

• End of the 19th century: Karl Marx makes the connection between inauthenticity and capitalism

• 20th century: existentialist philosophers (Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger) investigate the conscious self who has to deal with external pressures that are different from this self.

• 1960: rise of the counter culture in Europe and America; opposition against predominant cultural norms that would be ‘inauthentic’

• 2001 and 2003: accounting scandals at Enron and Ahold evoke a need for authentic leadership

Web Resources:

1. Definition of authenticity [6]

2. Philosophical meaning of authenticity [7]

3. Authentic identity on the web [8]

4. Importance of authentic leadership [9]

5. Authentic leadership historical [10]

6. Authenticity as competitive advantage [11]

7. Presentation by Gary Vaynerchuck (Social Media Guru) on Emerce eDay 2009