“If you seek authenticity for authenticity’s sake you are no longer authentic.”

~ Jean-Paul Sartre

If you’re not authentic, who are you?

Years ago I was traveling regularly to Asia, and wanted to buy my wife a Cartier tank watch, a style that was very popular at the time.

I visited a reputable jeweler where most of my partners had been shopping for over 20 years, and found exactly what I was looking for. My wife was ecstatic, and I saved a lot of money over what I would’ve spent here.

One day, it stopped working. Cartier is a highly reputable brand, so I didn’t hesitate to send it to their New York facility for repair. Imagine my stunned surprise when several weeks later they returned it with a note that said it was a reproduction. A fake. I not only bought the watch from an established retailer, but I had the beautiful Cartier box, a written certificate of authenticity and a warranty card. All of it was fake.

We feel that pinch in the pit of our stomach

When authenticity is hijacked, we are not only frustrated, but a bit of anger seeps into our emotional cauldron. We all feel that same pit in our stomach when something we expect to be real … isn’t.

Let’s turn the table on ourselves. When someone questions our authenticity, do we get a little defensive? “What do you mean I’m not authentic? It’s just me, in all of my infinite glory, so how is it I’m not authentic?” When we witness someone who is not authentic, we are usually amazed that he or she doesn’t recognize what everyone else sees, aren’t we?

How can you tell if others think you’re authentic?

If authenticity is readily recognizable in someone else, do we see it in ourselves so easily? Are there minimum standards that assure us of authenticity? Can we acquire those characteristics or are we only born with them? If we have some of them, can we make conscious improvements?

Honesty better be at the top of the list

If we are examining our own authenticity, honesty must be at the top of the list. If you aren’t honest, with yourself and others, you have little chance of being perceived as authentic because honesty is at the root of how genuine we appear to others. While you may be able to get away with the occasional white lie, over time the truth will prevail and you will be judged accordingly.

Emotional integrity is a legitimate offspring

Let your passion all hang out

You need to be passionate about something … and let it blossom across all of your interactions. Be enthusiastic. Be outspoken about it. Take a position. Right or wrong, you can’t be indifferent and you must speak up about what’s important to you. You must believe in something that is both important and valuable, and be willing to follow and promote that passion without respite or reflection.

Humility is another member of the sisterhood

Humility is a kissing cousin that belongs somewhere on this family tree. In fact, I’m not sure you can be authentic without this quality. In my earlier series about the Cornerstones of Leadership, I wrote that “humility makes it safe for you to admit your mistakes. People don’t expect you to be perfect. Quite the contrary, your willingness to admit your mistakes reflects your humanness, your vulnerability and your similarity to everyone else who makes mistakes every day.”

What can you do to make sure your genuine nature always shows up?

What can you do to enhance your authenticity? One thing that usually works is to share a self-deprecating sense of humor. People will see that you are serious but don’t take yourself too seriously. Maybe you also can be a little quicker to point to one of your failures or imperfections to help others avoid those mistakes.

It’s hard to fake them out for very long

If you’re convinced that perception is reality, you may think you can fake it. But, it’s awfully hard work to maintain that facade, and you’re very unlikely to be successful. In the case of authenticity, reality is what creates the genuine article.

Even if people don’t instantly recognize a fake, you won’t be able to fake them out for very long.

********************************

This article was published in the April 23, 2012 edition of the North Bay Business Journal, a publication of the New York Times, and a weekly business newspaper which I have served as a regular columnist for over three years. The Business Journal covers the North Bay area of San Francisco – from the Golden Gate bridge north, including the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa counties. The electronic version of this article, as published by the North Bay Business Journal, may be found here.

**********************************************************************************

Lary Kirchenbauer is the president of Exkalibur Advisors, providing practical business strategies for family and other privately owned businesses in the middle market. Exkalibur works closely with senior executives and their businesses in the wine and other industries, and hosts the Exkalibur Leadership Forum for leaders of middle market companies in the North Bay. Please visit Exkalibur.com for a library of valuable resources, articles and insights or connect on Twitter, LinkedIN or the Exkalibur fan page on Facebook.