Pop quiz: What do these five words have in common?
- Vaccine
- They
- Integrity
- Gaslighting
- Authenticity
Answer: These are all previously named as a Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster.
Authenticity, defined as “not false or imitation” and “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character” was selected as the Word of the Year last year, 2023.
One of the ways Merriam-Webster determines the Word of the Year is by how many times people have searched for the word on the interwebs.
Authenticity was a leader in lookups!
This confirms what we women already know.
Authenticity, specifically Feminine Authenticity, is the way out of toxic work culture. Everyone wants more authenticity in their relationships and in the world.
In a time when DEI programs are being scuttled, deep fakes abound, and AI is taking over, when we are never sure what is true and authentic, we want to make sure that, at the very least, we can be our true and authentic selves at work without repercussions.
I know, you are saying, “Laurie, you are asking a lot of corporate America” but, IMHO, it is the only way to true equity, ease, joy, prosperity, and freedom for all.
(icymi: No surprise, Gaslighting was the Word of the Year for 2022!)
We want to be authentically aligned in our careers. We want to work for a company we believe in and trust. We want the work we are doing to have a positive social impact, and we want our work to reflect our core values.
We want to stop feeling like we have to hide our authentic selves in order to fit in and achieve success.
Now is the time for Feminine Authenticity to step into the forefront and transform work culture so it works for everyone.
4 Ways You Can Bring Feminine Authenticity To Work
1. Feel It All:
Emotions are a feminine fuel. Knowing how to regulate our emotions, expressing them responsibly and accessing the power of these emotions to do what is needed in the moment is a feminine superpower. We have done this for centuries. Whether we are laughing till we cry or ugly-crying in the bathroom, by allowing the emotions to flow instead of tamping them down, we get information. This information is the fuel we need to create the best outcomes for the moment and lead ourselves and our teams in integrity. Embrace all the feels.
2. Embrace “power with not power over” Connection:
As women, we possess an innate ability to nurture relationships and build strong, meaningful connections. We have a strong capacity to be present with another and listen. We prefer to reduce conflict by bringing people together. Collaboration isn’t just an over-used word without real meaning to us. It is not merely a strategy; it’s another of our authentically feminine superpowers. We know how to create a sense of belonging and togetherness. When Feminine Authenticity is valued, when we build from a stance of Power With instead of Power Over, we are able to create and build work cultures of substance. These deep connections energize us during the challenging times and carry us further than we ever imagined possible in far more substantial ways in all times.
3. Trust Inner Wisdom:
One of the greatest gifts when we lead from the center of Feminine Authenticity is the access it gives us to the deep well of intuition that we carry within us. This ephemeral internal compass that guides us through the twists and turns without fear or confusion … when we allow it. The more we utilize an intuitive approach to work and how we are making decisions the more we realize that we can slow down. We do not have to all the things all at once. We are not afraid to pivot our careers, against others pushback, to stay aligned with who we are TODAY. We learn that we can Trust Life Unconditionally. Our inner wisdom comes to us in many forms yet we know it’s our intuition speaking because it feels like truth. Leaning into our intuition as our guide in a work culture that was not built for us gives us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do what is called for because our intuitive selves can never mess things up. Using Feminine Authenticity means giving our intuition the power and due it has always deserved.
4. Do It Our Way:
Feminine Authenticity is the heart of feminine expression. Whether it’s choosing a bold lipstick that makes us feel fierce, dying our hair blue, or embracing our natural beauty without adornment, we own our individuality. As women, we have been called to break boundaries and rewrite limiting narratives over and over again. And we are willing to do this because we know that this evolution of work culture needs us to do so. There is no one else that can build what the future needs in the way it needs it to be built better than women. Doing it our way isn’t about following the latest trends or trying to fit into societal expectations. Instead, we create new paths, forge new opportunities, and redefine what success, happiness, and fulfillment look like. It’s about owning our independence, making decisions that align with our values, and standing firm in our choices, even when they go against the grain. This bold, fearless approach to life not only frees us but also inspires other women to question the status quo and seek ways to express their own Feminine Authenticity.
I hope you are with me in my mission to bring our Feminine Authenticity into our everyday so that we can transform work culture so it works for everyone!
In the inaugural month of Career Alchemy, kicking off October 29, we will be coaching around the topic of Career Vision. A Career Vision only works when you align the work you are doing with your Feminine Authenticity.
When you are tapped into your Feminine Authenticity you have more fun. Things come together with ease. Doors open. Resources arrive. Creating a clear path to who you are now, how you want to spend your time both at work and in your personal life and fully becoming your Authentic Self makes all the difference.
If you are ready to create a career that works for you and that reflects your Authentic Self then Join Career Alchemy today.
OTHER COOL THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT!
On Monday Oct 21st at 6:00 PM on LinkedIn LIVE with Michele Kelly, Co-founder of K+L Storyteller, published author and champion of authentic brands, talks with me about authenticity and why it matters. Join us here!
Reinvigorate Your Job Search Free 6-day Workshop is happening right now and it is not too late to join. All calls are recorded and available in replay until November 2nd. Join when you can or watch when you are able. Tons of good stuff inside the workshop! Here is the link to register.
