5 ways to create an authentic communication style is an important tool to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Every good fisherman knows that you need the right lure for the right fish. Being an authentic communicator will gravitate the right people/opportunities towards you. In the end you want a company to like you for you. As you settle in, your true self will be apparent. Don’t have a win at all cost mentality when interviewing.
The first step is to know yourself. To get a transparent view of yourself you should reach out to those who know you best as our self-assessment can be skewed for a variety of reasons. Build a board of directors for your career with those who you respect and know they are willing to give you reliable feedback. Create a plan on how to highlight your strengths and core values. Create a mission statement about yourself that you are willing to own. As you control the controllable going forward, use the self-mission statement as your guardrails to stay on course. Employers and direct reports covet consistency and reliability in their leaders.
Fear is a natural feeling in all walks of nature. Embrace it and understand that having no feeling at all is far worse than facing fear. Combat fear though preparation and education. Information is at our fingertips due to the power of technology. The more we learn the less scary things become. There are many ways to learn through other perspectives and create a knowledge base to optimize our toolbelt to overcome obstacles.
Confidence and authenticity go hand in hand. Use the language that you would normally use. When we communicate with others it is important to be at ease and believe in what we are speaking about. Don’t dilute your message with fancy words to impress. The best speakers talk from the heart and live the message that they are sharing. The goal is to create an authentic voice that is clear and direct.
Honesty is an important tool to leverage. We all have special skills, abilities, and experiences that we should embrace. Being vulnerable shows that we are confident in ourselves to let know that we are not finished in learning. You can only improve on something if you are willing to accept information to seek improvement. To authentically communicate must show vulnerability and share your truth. This will help you grow as a person as it may open insights from received feedback.
The goal is not to sell or gain something from other when communicating. We all should focus on sharing and engaging with each other. Do not listen to respond, listen to learn and you will hear things that will help solidify your opinions or broaden your perspectives. Being authentic will help create loyalty and support with those you are communicating with.
Written by:
Mike DePaulo, LSSBB, CDR
Co-Founder
All Pro Recruiting, LLC.
