Comments on: Can an employee be “too authentic”? http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/ aligning identity, action and purpose Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:08:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gautam Ijoor http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-901 Gautam Ijoor Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:51:23 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-901 My project thesis in my undergrad program (Environmental Engineering) in India, required me to identify the "Diseases related to solid waste handling". To fulfill my endeavor, I decided to spend an entire day with a few "Pourakarmikas" or Solid Waste Handles. This included starting work after several shots of the Indian equivalent of "Moonshine" - "Packet" or "arrack" as they called it. My thesis concluded that the nature of solid waste handling had more far reaching emotional, social and health impacts. The authentic insight was not only troubling but helped my project be recognized by my school. Authentic insight is very useful but is available at a price. In my case it resulted in poor attendance and performance in some other subjects. My project thesis in my undergrad program (Environmental Engineering) in India, required me to identify the “Diseases related to solid waste handling”. To fulfill my endeavor, I decided to spend an entire day with a few “Pourakarmikas” or Solid Waste Handles. This included starting work after several shots of the Indian equivalent of “Moonshine” – “Packet” or “arrack” as they called it. My thesis concluded that the nature of solid waste handling had more far reaching emotional, social and health impacts. The authentic insight was not only troubling but helped my project be recognized by my school. Authentic insight is very useful but is available at a price. In my case it resulted in poor attendance and performance in some other subjects.

]]> By: Scott http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-893 Scott Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:00:57 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-893 As a small business owner, I struggle with limiting my market based on my own areas of expertise. As a former fighter pilot, many potential clients take on stereo-typical views of what I am, and what my company will be like. Encouraging a broader view about this has been a struggle - trying to take the good of the stereo-type while leaving out the bad. At the same time, I try to align my charitable works, like Lori, with my customers and my own background - disabled veterans. I really feel like this helps to articulate to my employees and customers who we desire to serve. Moreover, this helps provide emotional background to our mission. As a small business owner, I struggle with limiting my market based on my own areas of expertise. As a former fighter pilot, many potential clients take on stereo-typical views of what I am, and what my company will be like. Encouraging a broader view about this has been a struggle – trying to take the good of the stereo-type while leaving out the bad.

At the same time, I try to align my charitable works, like Lori, with my customers and my own background – disabled veterans. I really feel like this helps to articulate to my employees and customers who we desire to serve. Moreover, this helps provide emotional background to our mission.

]]> By: Srini http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-891 Srini Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:28:13 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-891 Involving in comunity activties leads to know more about your customers depends upon your line of business. For example I am working for DHS or government as a consultant. I am not sure how my involvement in community activities help my consulting company. Involving in comunity activties leads to know more about your customers depends upon your line of business. For example I am working for DHS or government as a consultant. I am not sure how my involvement in community activities help my consulting company.

]]> By: Omar http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-890 Omar Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:55:38 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-890 I agree with Tamica that involvement does need to be planned. The problems seem to occur when the culture you are attempting to integrate is inherently unplanned. Planning community service activities and events is nice, but my guess is the firm will remain one-step-removed from the core culture, which in the case of skating, for example, is probably inherently more organic and spontaneous. I agree with Tamica that involvement does need to be planned. The problems seem to occur when the culture you are attempting to integrate is inherently unplanned. Planning community service activities and events is nice, but my guess is the firm will remain one-step-removed from the core culture, which in the case of skating, for example, is probably inherently more organic and spontaneous.

]]> By: Lori http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-889 Lori Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:36:20 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-889 My company has always done a fantastic job of reaching out the community around our headquarters. In recent years, we have seen the benefit of reaching out to the communities surrounding the hospitals we service. Of interest to me is the underserved communities in DC and Baltimore. We have conducted outreach programs to promote EF (Ejection Fraction) and SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) awareness in predominately African American and Hispanic communities. This effort promoted awarness and also engaged many of our minority employees on a deeper, more personal level. My company has always done a fantastic job of reaching out the community around our headquarters. In recent years, we have seen the benefit of reaching out to the communities surrounding the hospitals we service. Of interest to me is the underserved communities in DC and Baltimore. We have conducted outreach programs to promote EF (Ejection Fraction) and SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) awareness in predominately African American and Hispanic communities. This effort promoted awarness and also engaged many of our minority employees on a deeper, more personal level.

]]> By: Tony http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-887 Tony Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:25:34 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-887 As I go down the list I'm beginning to see a middle ground that I'm comfortable with... as long as the employee is being responsible with regards to making a decision per what role they have to perform within the company. There is a difference b/t "my company pays for me skate-boarding, how sweet is that?" and "I'm going skate-boarding not only b/c I enjoy it, but also because my job is to identify trends, gather market research, and talk / learn from the target audience, etc." With the example at the start of the article - it's got to judged on a person-by-person basis, and how seriously they're taking their job. At the very least, the manager should be laying out guard-rails to define what's acceptable and not acceptable at the beginning (example - "you need to let me know if you're not coming into work, and why.") As I go down the list I’m beginning to see a middle ground that I’m comfortable with… as long as the employee is being responsible with regards to making a decision per what role they have to perform within the company. There is a difference b/t “my company pays for me skate-boarding, how sweet is that?” and “I’m going skate-boarding not only b/c I enjoy it, but also because my job is to identify trends, gather market research, and talk / learn from the target audience, etc.”

With the example at the start of the article – it’s got to judged on a person-by-person basis, and how seriously they’re taking their job. At the very least, the manager should be laying out guard-rails to define what’s acceptable and not acceptable at the beginning (example – “you need to let me know if you’re not coming into work, and why.”)

]]> By: Jackson http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-886 Jackson Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:20:50 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-886 Many healthcare organizations will have their physicians and other ancillary staff give informational talks to the public on basic subjects (e.g., diabetes, "knee surgery," etc.) (examples from Inova are here: http://www.inova.org/health-info-and-classes/pdfs/healthsource-calendar.pdf). As the article recommends, it gives explicit organizational approval to an activity that appears to be only indirectly supportive of the business. I wonder, however, if this dynamic is highly industry-dependent. How would employees from Bain tangibly express authenticity? Or Ernst + Young? Or State Farm (without simply being everybody's "good neighbor"? Many healthcare organizations will have their physicians and other ancillary staff give informational talks to the public on basic subjects (e.g., diabetes, “knee surgery,” etc.) (examples from Inova are here: http://www.inova.org/health-info-and-classes/pdfs/healthsource-calendar.pdf). As the article recommends, it gives explicit organizational approval to an activity that appears to be only indirectly supportive of the business.

I wonder, however, if this dynamic is highly industry-dependent. How would employees from Bain tangibly express authenticity? Or Ernst + Young? Or State Farm (without simply being everybody’s “good neighbor”?

]]> By: Tamica http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-885 Tamica Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:46:02 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-885 I think it is great to be active in the community with potential and current customers; however, I think it has to be planned. A company needs to be in control of its image and its connections and you cannot have a rogue employee out doing things of which you are not aware. I am not stating however that the employee cannot have freedome to make certain decisions while networking - they should but they should also ensure that they keep their employer in the loop of their where abouts and intentions. I think it is great to be active in the community with potential and current customers; however, I think it has to be planned. A company needs to be in control of its image and its connections and you cannot have a rogue employee out doing things of which you are not aware. I am not stating however that the employee cannot have freedome to make certain decisions while networking – they should but they should also ensure that they keep their employer in the loop of their where abouts and intentions.

]]> By: Kevin Franson http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-884 Kevin Franson Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:45:46 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-884 We struggle with being authentic and true to the customer within the Recoveries Department at Capital One everyday. In some cases, we even struggle with calling our charged off debtors "customers" as their debt has been written off and their cards have been deactivated. However, it is our duty to ensure that the customer is still treated fairly in Recoveries and that we attempt to recoup our losses in a reputable, authentic fashion. We struggle with being authentic and true to the customer within the Recoveries Department at Capital One everyday. In some cases, we even struggle with calling our charged off debtors “customers” as their debt has been written off and their cards have been deactivated. However, it is our duty to ensure that the customer is still treated fairly in Recoveries and that we attempt to recoup our losses in a reputable, authentic fashion.

]]> By: Alex Z http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-880 Alex Z Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:16:02 +0000 http://AuthenticOrganizations.com/harquail/2008/02/28/can-an-employee-be-%e2%80%9ctoo-authentic%e2%80%9d/#comment-880 Being authentic doesn't mean losing your own sensibility, identity or sense of "what's right". The company is responsible for the systems/activities it creates and sponsors and ultimately the boundaries that surround "authenticating" actions. But, employees should be thoughtful of perceptions that may be created as a result of their activities - both within and outside the company. Ultimately, we are individuals making choices.... hopefully sound choices. Being authentic doesn’t mean losing your own sensibility, identity or sense of “what’s right”. The company is responsible for the systems/activities it creates and sponsors and ultimately the boundaries that surround “authenticating” actions. But, employees should be thoughtful of perceptions that may be created as a result of their activities – both within and outside the company. Ultimately, we are individuals making choices…. hopefully sound choices.

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