07/27/2026
LONG POST ALERT: Try not to let the amassed amount of floral decorations in the picture distract you from what I am about to share. 🥴
I've always been described as reserved or polished. And it is a part of who I am. And yet, there is still a part of me that wants to be less "buttoned up," because my professionalism is often misinterpreted as not fully real or stiff.
Now, back to this picture, if you haven't guessed, suited kid in this picture is me. I loved to wear suits to school. Today, you'll find me in suits or sweatsuits, or something in between but, I'm still just as reserved as I was then.
What I find interesting is we celebrate one version of authenticity. You know the version that includes loudness, sharing raw moments, and public mistakes, but we don't talk much about the people whose authenticity looks more quiet. But y'all there's layers and ranges to authenticity.
Some people are innately measured, composed, and buttoned-up. That's who they are, no different from someone else's natural looseness or bluntness.
So, how does this apply in the workplace?
We often mistake personality for authenticity and assume the people who are the most outwardly expressive are the most genuine. But, authenticity is about whether *the version you choose to share is true to who you are and your values.* When we accept that, we can accept that value can look different, and still be valuable.
So what does authenticity look like to you? Suits, sweatsuits, or both?