DO NOT CONFORM: DARE TO BE YOURSELF

The truly successful are those who know who they are, strengths and weaknesses. They have accepted their own capabilities and limitations. They have dared to be authentic. These individuals always stand out and exude confidence. The thing we lack as humans is self-assurance. We are told to have role models to aspire to be and to copy. In the end, there are no genuine people but a bunch of copycats.

Can You Be Yourself in a Business Environment?

What are you doing at work if you are not authentic? Every human being (yes, everyone) is born with a gift. That gift distinguishes and differentiates each individual. What you offer to the world comes from your uniqueness. Imagine if we were all accountants. Who would be at the front desk (receptionists) welcoming clients?

If you are going to be confined to a jacketed personality, how do you use the character in you that is meant to fulfil a certain position? This explains why we have cranky receptionists. These are people placed in wrong positions. If people were truly themselves, it would be easier to identify the outgoing ones and place them in situations where they could interact with the public. The free spirits would certainly thrive in a creative workplace where they are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with novel ideas that lead to business breakthroughs.

Every persona has a role to perform in business. Most individuals have failed to realise this. As a result, we have repressed employees who are unable to contribute to the company's progress because they are too busy pretending to be someone they are not.

What role might an eccentric person play in a company? Eccentric people can teach drama in schools. Who wants to have a dull drama teacher? Sales people require some eccentricity and enthusiasm to deal with consumers all day long. And customers are not the most friendly people in the world.

What about a vibrant and outgoing personality? That one would be the public relations representative who handles the company's public affairs. A quiet, principled individual would be in management. Each character has a place in the cooperative universe. However, employees have suddenly chosen to all wear the same uniform: the I am extremely decent and I am really calm uniform. It's no surprise that work is monotonous, and everyone wants to go home and be themselves.

We learn how to answer interview questions either on our own or from someone else. We offer employers the answers they want to hear so that we can get hired. Workers have practically become robots, programmed to behave and work in specific ways.

The workplace has no room for individuality. That is why, every now and then, someone who dares to be different and thinks outside the box is celebrated and awarded with medals. The truth is that every worker is capable of what the praised individual has accomplished. If every employee dared to be themselves, outside-the-box thinking would become commonplace.

Even the Bible was authored by persons of various characteristics, and their personalities are apparent in their writings. When God calls a person, He does not obliterate their personality. Character is what distinguishes the literature of both the New and Old Testaments. You quickly understand the various styles and voices of the people who wrote the Bible. Luke was a physician, which explains why his gospel focuses on Jesus' healings.

Everyone is born with unique gifts. So, why are people letting the workplace destroy their dreams? Isn't the workplace the ideal location to thrive and demonstrate your talents for the benefit of the company?

If your current job is drowning you, it may be time to change jobs or become an entrepreneur.