Authenticity is an "accelerator"

One of the wonderful aspects social media has brought to the forefront is the need to be authentic.  This was never a problem decades ago when everyone pretty much knew you and what you were about so it wasn't a big issue.  But as we have spread out around the world it has been much easier to "hide" and "pretend" to be something you're not - until social media arrived.

Now there are multiple ways, thanks to the tools of social media, for people to find out the "real you" - it is much more difficult to hide and pretend.  Those that get this and are naturally authentic individuals are leading the pack in using this to their advantage.  Those that are still trying to hide are being discovered and discarded.  Unless you are a "coupon" that is being sent out, you need to demonstrate authenticity to win your audience over.

The beauty of authenticity is that your audience actually wants to get to know you and learn more about you and see all your strengths and warts. This is what makes us human.  Regardless of whether it is personal or business, the sooner you get to authenticity, the sooner you will begin to build TRUST and as you continue to build trust, you are able to start building a RELATIONSHIP with that person or your audience.  But the core ingredient is authenticity.  The Relationship Management Institute gives you a much deeper look into what makes up authenticity in their post, "The Journey Towards Authenticity."

Social media simply allows you to do it much faster and more effectively than ever before.  There are many more ways people can see who you are and what you are about by what you say, write, comment, respond, etc.  Social media simply allows your audience to "peel back the onion" on you and begin to see who you really are by what you say, who you interact with, what you support, etc.  The good news - those who have nothing to hide can use these tools to really accelerate their relationships and build a solid following faster than ever before and more globally.  The pretenders or posers will eventually  be discovered and discarded.