There's a great deal of talk these days in business meetings, magazines and blogs about 'authenticity' in business.

Look up authenticity in a dictionary or thesaurus, and you'll see words like credibility, genuineness, believability - or even the real thing or the real McCoy. Gone are the days when the 'smoke and mirrors' approach will cut it for anyone wishing to succeed in business.

So in this issue of The BeeZine we've collected resources and articles about 'being real' in business.

We hope you'll find some food for thought and practical tips among them.

Someone once said, 'If you can't be sincere then fake it'!

I think that someone is no longer in business.

It is certainly not a quote you would use as part of a mission statement, unless you sell shonky goods and want to rip people off.

Seriously, to be successful in business in terms of sales and reputation, you need to be 'real'. Not a chameleon that changes depending on the situation.

A real person has the following qualities:

Ethics
You need positive values that are acted upon and not just advertised. Words are not enough to prove you have ethics. Your actions will determine whether you are behaving in an ethical manner

Honesty
Honesty is not the best policy, it's the only policy. As Mark Twain once said, 'when in doubt tell the truth.' Honesty gains respect and a reputation that encourages customers to come back to your business.

Being Genuine
If you are ethical and honest then you will come across as genuine. And being genuine is the most powerful way of creating and strengthening relationships with your customers. To be genuine, just be.

There are a lot of temptations in business to cut corners by saying and doing things that are not entirely ethical, honest or genuine.

If you are tempted, and we all are at times, ask yourself the following question.

Are you for real?
 

Do you have an important speech coming up - either personally or professionally? Perhaps you have to make a presentation for your business. Or you'll be speaking at a wedding or other family event.

If you would like to become more confident in public speaking, or learn useful strategies and tips for impressing your audience - while also 'staying real' - then we can help you.

In addition to our Stand and Deliver workshops, we also provide 1:1 coaching in public speaking and presentation skills.

For more information, email Chris or call him on (03) 9751 1360.
 

Being Authentic in Business

Be Yourself

Business Development and Personal Success Tip - Be Yourself

Know your True, Authentic Self

Attitude in the Workplace: Knowing Yourself As A Way to Improve Your Work Quality

Personal Boundaries In the Workplace

Why Being Yourself Matters

Combining Motivation and Talent to Stand Out in the Workplace

Honesty in Business

The Art of Authentic Business

Walk Your Talk and You'll Naturally Attract Clients

Do You Have to Sell Your Soul to Survive in Business?
 

Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. (Steve Landesberg)

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