How to build your career without being someone you’re not

Words by Paula Leach

What does career mean to you? In the dictionary, it might be defined as: ‘an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

I like the definition because it offers us the ability to interpret what career means in our lives for ourselves. What might we mean by occupation? This could be a traditional professional occupation; however, it could be wider than this. And opportunities for progress can mean progress in terms of hierarchy, earnings, status, job title, responsibility. It can also mean learning, development, growth.  

So, the first thing to say about having an authentic career, is that what career might mean to you may not be the same for others, or indeed an organisational structure or professional route that you may be part of. It can change throughout our lives as we discover more about what fulfils us.

Much is written and commentated upon in terms of authenticity as a leader or indeed anyone participating in the workplace. Again, a definition is useful here and this can mean ‘the quality of being real or true’.  

So how do you build a career without being someone you’re not? Here are five thought starters which have helped me, and I know help the people I work with:

Cultivate self-awareness

The starting point for considering authenticity and to know if you are following in someone else’s style or mould is to build your own self awareness and brand. This starts with understanding your own values and what is important to you. As soon as we are out of alignment with our values, through what we do or how we behave, we feel that sense of discomfort. Explore your values and ensure that you are in an environment which can support the things which are most important to you. Know yourself and invest the time in understanding what you stand for.

Find your purpose

In the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, a ‘good life’ is deemed to be made up of four aspects: What do I love, what does the world need, what can I make money from and what am I good at. If these aspects are considered together this enables us to live a life centred on purpose. So, what lights you up? If you are genuinely passionate about what you do, who you are serving and why you are progressing in this occupation (career) then it is harder to be inauthentic or to behave in a way we think we ‘should’ rather than what serves that purpose.

Listen to what others need and deliver (your way)

Often in organisations, we can conform to a certain way of working because that is ‘the way things are done around here’ and it serves as a shorthand for integration with the group (or tribe).  However, your unique thinking and approaches are important, and being yourself serves others as well as ensuring that you feel the freedom of authenticity. Focusing on outcomes and needs of others can enable you to be more yourself, because you will be more keenly able to demonstrate that outcome or meet the needs of others which is the overall objective. This will avoid people looking for reassurance that they will have their needs met by seeking signals from how you are approaching something and looking for that reassurance because of familiarity (you look and sound like them). They will in turn also benefit from your best self-showing up with your unique contributions because being ourselves needs to serve others with whom we are collaborating in a shared endeavour.  

Look for role models – if you can’t find one, be one for yourself!

Sometimes we can feel that we can’t be our true selves to achieve career success because we can’t see anyone like us above or around us. This could be in terms of a particular characteristic, or it could be how people approach their thinking and their work. Often, we can’t see the role model to follow. In this instance, you can stitch together a role model based on various characteristics you see in different people to create your visionary inspiration. Or, if you can’t see it, just be it and become your own role model. Chances are that others will benefit from you stepping into your authenticity and will also follow your approach which may open doors for more diversity and creative approaches in a team or organisation.