The authenticity advantage

In all walks of life, from the meeting room to the neighborhood, people are yearning for more. More trust, deeper connection, genuine inspiration. Yet modern society pushes us in the opposite direction: toward disconnection, isolation, and self-interest over collective good.

One of the most powerful traits that can reverse this trend and create more success at work and in community is authenticity.

We spend much of our time interacting with other people. Many of us work with brilliant colleagues, yet we spend much of our energy pretending. Pretending we're okay when we're not. Pretending to be at the top of our game when we often question ourselves. Pretending we have all the answers when our feelings are mixed.

Every time we deny where we are, every split second we put on a mask rather than share our true selves, we expend extra energy and rob ourselves of what we need most: deeper connection, more ideas, and the inspiration that drives us to create, innovate, and build new things.

When we deny ourselves these things through inauthenticity, we add to our feelings of disconnection and loneliness rather than generating the energy that could give us hope and support to improve our lives and the lives of others.

Why Authenticity Matters Now

Practicing authenticity offers relief from the difficulties of the modern era while cultivating essential human skills we desperately need in the age of AI:

Authenticity as Ease
We've been trained to bury most of what we actually feel, especially at work. Authenticity allows us to stop expending energy on pretending. It lets us feel lighter in speaking our truth, especially when that truth is heard and supported by others.

Authenticity as Connection
At a time when loneliness and division are skyrocketing, authenticity provides a foundation for a positive path forward:

• Trust – Sharing more of yourself and receiving others when they do the same creates safety to go deeper

• Candor – Authenticity enables us to speak more truth in service of our own growth and the growth of others

• Integrity – Being aligned with our authenticity creates wholeness in our relationships and deepens connection when our words and actions align

• Better Health – Research shows that the depth of our connections directly relates to how healthy we are and how long we live

Authenticity as Innovation
With more ease, trust, and better connections, we open to the possibility of more inspiration. Inspiration is a key ingredient for getting things done with other people, a human skill we desperately need right now. Through deeper collaboration, imagine what we could build and create together. Imagine how we could support each other through division, loneliness, and the effects of AI simply by learning to be more real with ourselves and others.

Authenticity is a skill anyone can learn and grow. This is leadership. By sharing just a little more of your true self every day, you can find more success in life and at work while inspiring others to do the same.

A Framework for More Authenticity in Your Life

Important note: Authenticity is complex and not possible or recommended in all situations. It takes practice and can be difficult, sometimes messy. The playing field is not level. It might be safe for one person to be authentic with their boss when others cannot due to status, gender, ethnicity, race, and other social factors. Part of this work is having awareness of these factors and creating space for others to bring their authenticity. Use your judgment and start where it feels safe.

Priority Zero: Safety

Authenticity isn't about being real in every moment. Sometimes it's not safe, especially at work. Before opening up, assess whether it's safe to do so. Check in with yourself and your own wisdom. If safety is unclear, share the situation with someone you trust and get their perspective.

Sometimes authenticity means recognizing when it's not safe to be real in the moment and noticing that. From there, you might revisit conversations when it's safer. At minimum, share your awareness of these unsafe moments with others. Growing awareness of when we want to be authentic but cannot helps us stay aligned with our truth, even when we can't share it in every moment.

It Starts with You

Being authentic with others is difficult when we aren't being real with ourselves. This starts with clarity about what's important to you and what values you believe in, essential in a world of algorithms that can shape our belief systems.

It can also mean knowing how you're truly feeling in any moment. You don't need to identify the exact emotion. Start with noticing sensations in your body: tightening, swirling, sinking, tingling. Try checking in with yourself at least once throughout the day. Quietly name (to yourself or aloud if appropriate) one genuine feeling you're experiencing. Notice what it feels like to name this awareness.

Practicing Authenticity with Others

Try these simple starting points when working on authenticity with others, especially at work:

Break the "I'm good" pattern
We respond automatically when asked "how are you doing?" We say "I'm good" without a second thought. But it only takes a moment to pause and say something else. Try:

• "Real talk: I'm just okay at the moment"

• "I'm decent, navigating a lot right now"

• Share something you're excited about in the future

• Try a combo move: share one positive thing and one difficulty

Share genuine details about yourself
Practice sharing minor but genuine things. Even better, what those things feel like to you. This could be a hobby, weekend activity, or a book you enjoyed recently. Make a commitment that at the beginning of work calls, you'll do something different than "I'm good."

Remember authenticity flows both ways
When someone shares something authentic with you, take a moment to receive and acknowledge it. You can facilitate both sharing and receiving.

Micro-Solidarity: Your Practice Ground

If I can suggest one thing to help grow your authenticity skills, it's this: practice micro-solidarity. Create a space or commitment with yourself and at least one other person where you can share real talk with each other. The good, the bad, all of it. Just focus on the real. 

This could be a shared chat space, a weekly or monthly video call, or anything that feels good to you. You can create multiple spaces or group spaces. Start small and go from there. You'd be amazed at how this feels, especially over time.

In these spaces, you can practice being real and support others in doing the same. This is leadership and growth in action.

Your Next Step

Authenticity isn't just about a few soft skills, it's a human advantage in a world that's increasingly automated and disconnected. It's how we build trust, unlock innovation, and create the kind of collaboration that actually moves things forward.

You don't need to transform overnight. Start with one practice this week. Notice what shifts. Share just a little more truth in your next conversation. Create one space where you can practice being real.

The world needs more authentic leaders. Not because it's feel-good, but because it's how we solve hard problems together while we work to make a positive impact on the world. That work starts with you, in this moment, with the very next person you talk to.

What will you share?

Matty Stevenson founded Conscious Ground on a simple premise: our disconnection isn't accidental; it's manufactured. With expertise in both emerging AI technology and human connection, he helps people and organizations reclaim what matters most: the ability to connect authentically, lead consciously, and build solidarity across differences. Join the movement at consciousground.net