1. Should I Bring my Authentic Self to Work?
2013 IABA National Meeting
Christal Morris
August 1, 2013

2. Today’s objectives
Objectives: To prepare you for balancing your personality and values with those of our firm culture, while:
Defining your authentic self
Familiarizing you with your own style
Identifying your life passion
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3. Introduction
Most of us know one or two acquaintances who do not really fit into the "successful" life they have chosen
For example, have you ever met…
a powerful attorney whose real passion is music?
or a wealthy banker who loves the outdoors?
or a highly decorated military officer who wishes he were an entrepreneur?
It's easy to choose or accept one's life's work for the wrong reason.
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4. Your authentic self
Your authentic self is the unique combination of all your qualities:
It is the expression of your core values through all your quirks and strengths
Skills
Abilities
Interests
Talents
Limits
Insights
Experiences
Memories
Beliefs
Purpose
Wisdom
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5. Your authentic self
Increase the congruence between what you do, your goals, beliefs and values. Pay attention to how you spend your time. Do the activities you spend your time on advance your most important goals? Do your goals reflect your values? Do your values reflect your authentic self? Reappraise your values, beliefs, goals and actions to improve the congruence
As people become more authentic they often become more rational, realistic, intuitive, creative, independent, flexible, able to manage change, willing to accept blame and correct their mistakes, generous, respectful of others, fair and cooperative. This congruence earns the trust of others
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6. Johari Window The Open Self Blind Hidden The Undiscovered
Things I know about myself
Things I don’t know about myself
Things others
know about me
don’t know about me
The
Open
Self
Blind
Hidden
The Undiscovered
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7. Iceberg of Differences
Gender
Race
Physical
Ability
Language
Sexual Orientation
Religion
Value Systems
Heritage
Function
Life Experiences
Thought Processes
Education
Nationality
Family Status
Talents
Beliefs
Skills
Perspectives
Age
© 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved.
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8. Iceberg of Differences
What do we KNOW about someone versus what do we ASSUME?
How could this influence how we INTERPRET situations?
How does that IMPACT the decisions we make?
Gender
Race
Physical
Ability
Language
Orientation
Religion
Education
Culture
Service Line
Tenure with the Firm
Thought Processes
Nationality
Family Status
FWA
Heritage
Skills
Talents
Age
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9. Your authentic self Misaligned Authentic Person Who you are
What you do
Do who you are
Authentic behaviors
Alien behaviors
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10. What is your personality style? How are you behaving at work?
There are many applications and assessments. Let’s talk about one of them:
MBTI
DISC
Social styles
Communication styles
Personal values
16 types, no wrong answer
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11. MBTI – Which is your most natural energy orientation?
Extroverted Characteristics
Act first, think/reflect later
Feel deprived when cutoff from interaction with the outside world
Usually open to and motivated by outside world of people and things
Enjoy wide variety and change in people relationships
Introverted Characteristics
Think/reflect first, then Act
Regularly require an amount of "private time" to recharge batteries
Motivated internally, mind is sometimes so active it is "closed" to outside world
Prefer one-to-one communication and relationships
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12. MBTI – Which way of perceiving or understanding is automatic or natural?
Sensing Characteristics
Mentally live in the Now, attending to present opportunities
Using common sense and creating practical solutions is automatic-instinctual
Memory recall is rich in detail of facts and past events
Like clear and concrete information; dislike guessing when facts are "fuzzy"
Intuitive Characteristics
Mentally live in the Future, attending to future possibilities
Using imagination and creating/inventing new possibilities is automatic-instinctual
Memory recall emphasizes patterns, contexts, and connections
Best improvise from theoretical understanding
Comfortable with ambiguous, fuzzy data and with guessing its meaning
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13. MBTI – Which way of forming judgments and perceiving is most natural?
Thinking Characteristics
Instinctively search for facts and logic in a decision situation
Naturally notices tasks and work to be accomplished
Easily able to provide an objective and critical analysis
Accept conflict as a natural, normal part of relationships with people
Feeling Characteristics
Instinctively employ personal feelings and impact on people in decision situations
Naturally sensitive to people needs and reactions
Naturally seek consensus and popular opinions
Unsettled by conflict; have almost a toxic reaction to disharmony
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14. MBTI - What is your action orientation towards the outside world?
Judging Characteristics
Plan many of the details in advance before moving into action
Focus on task-related action; complete meaningful segments before moving on
Work best and avoid stress when able to keep ahead of deadlines
Naturally use targets, dates and standard routines to manage life
Perceiving Characteristics
Comfortable moving into action without a plan; plan on-the-go
Like to multitask, have variety, mix work and play
Naturally tolerant of time pressure; work best close to the deadlines
Instinctively avoid commitments which interfere with flexibility, freedom and variety
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15. Life balance wheel exercise
What is important to you…
…vs. how you are spending your time
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16. Are you using your strengths?
When you are not able to use your strengths at work, chances are that you:
Dread going to work
Have more negative than positive interactions with your colleagues
Treat your customers poorly
Tell your friends what a miserable company you work for
Achieve less on a daily basis
Have fewer positive and creative moments
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17. Where do I start?
Don Miguel Ruiz shares centuries of Toltec wisdom in his book The Four Agreements. To apply this wisdom, choose to create these profound agreements with yourself:
Be impeccable with your word
Do not take anything personally
Do not make assumptions
Always do your best
© 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved.
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18. Summary Is it Luck? Passion Keep in mind life is not a dress rehearsal
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19. Summary
“Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of judgment, or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you're supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social mask on to please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic self”
- Dr. Phil
© 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved.
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20. Should you bring your authentic self to work?
Group discussion
Should you bring your authentic self to work?
© 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved.
towerswatson.com