Building Authenticity in the Workplace and my USP.

Following on from last week’s My Whole Self Day, I want to explore the topic of authenticity even further.

Here is a recent quote from a Mental Health First Aid Course where I trained a room full of amazing volunteers.

‘Claire was great, she had great energy. I just enjoyed her presence and delivery.Her honesty and authenticity made her training exceptional.’

I am great at what I do and usually receive positive feedback, but this feedback really was quite special. A core USP of my business is my 24 years of experience working in mental health and my ability to share my personal experience of managing mental ill health. This quote was so heart-warming to read, and will definitely be one that stays with me.

If you’d told me when I was younger that my job would involve standing up speaking in front of a room full of people, I would never have believed you. I’m a sociable bean, and love being with friends and family, but ultimately an introvert by nature, and need time in my own company.

Looking back now I definitely had social anxiety at school. In a class where the teacher would be picking out someone to answer a question or speak, I’d be sitting there thinking ‘not me, not me, please not me’. I’d have no idea what question had been asked, and definitely no idea of an answer. I was also not learning in this highly anxious state - perhaps a learning point for schools.

It has been quite a journey from my school days to my working life now.

I do absolutely love what I do, I’m very lucky. I often get glimmer moments in my work and it really does reinforce that I’m definitely in the right place.

To be authentic in this type of delivery take time, self-awareness, emotional literacy, confidence and trust in yourself and those in the room. I would like to think I can bring my ‘Whole Self’ to work in my training. Being authentic and bringing all the parts of who I am. This also only works with the right workplace culture and the right supportive people around you, so I would like to say a huge thank you to my group of volunteers who brought out the best in me.