The Strength of Authenticity

FROM THE DESK OF LEILANY LIMA

In a world that often rewards conformity, revealing our uniqueness can feel like an unnerving task. Yet our greatest contributions come when we learn to withstand the discomfort and uncertainty of marching to our own drum - that is, to embrace that which makes us distinctive.
In this edition we’ll explore how to identify your authentic strengths, how to build resilience through discomfort, and how to create environments where uniqueness thrives - both for yourself and those around you.
If you're short on time then you'll find what you need in the Coordinates section. When you're ready for a deep dive, scroll down to your Inner Compass.
Bon Voyage!

COORDINATES

Self-Direction

To truly harness your unique strengths, you first need to recognize what they are, understand where they naturally emerge, and identify what holds them back. Over the next week, I invite you to explore these three prompts with curiosity and compassion. Take note of your discoveries along the way so you can begin assembling a clearer picture of your authentic self.

1. Inner Resonance: Pay attention to what brings you genuine joy rather than just satisfaction. When do you feel most authentic and alive? Notice which activities make you lose track of time. Distinguish between what society/others expect versus what truly energizes you.
2. Overlooked Virtues: Think about what others consistently appreciate in you. What compliments do you receive but often dismiss? Consider: What do people thank you for? What roles are you naturally asked to fill? What do colleagues or friends say they admire about you?
3. Expression Blockers: What specifically stops you from honoring the call toward your individuation? Name the external pressures, internal fears, or practical constraints that keep you from expressing your uniqueness - or from accepting the strengths others see in you.

Team Navigation

Use these approaches to foster the unique strengths of those on your team:

1. Ask "what enlivens you" questions: In your next 1:1 ask "When do you feel most energized in your work?" or "Which aspects of this project would engage your natural talents?" These questions shift the focus to amplifying distinctive strengths.
2. Practice genuine curiosity: When someone offers a different perspective, respond with: "Tell me more about how you see this." This values their unique viewpoint and often reveals insights that conformity might have missed.
3. Remove barriers to authenticity: Great leaders create conditions where distinctive contributions can flourish. Ask: "What obstacles prevent you from applying your best talents?" Then work to remove these constraints.
4. Develop strength-spotting skills: Train yourself to notice the unique capabilities each team member brings. Regularly highlight specific examples of when you've seen their distinct talents create value, reinforcing both awareness and application of these strengths.

Team Benefit: When differences are seen as assets rather than problems, safety increases, innovation grows, and engagement deepens. Many of today's most successful organizations thrive by unleashing each person's unique talents.

INNER COMPASS

"In a society that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act." - Caroline Caldwell

There's a profound difference between the self-improvement industry's message of "fix what's wrong with you" and the deeper journey of uncovering what's intrinsically right with you. The first path assumes inadequacy; the second recognizes that your unique way of experiencing and contributing to the world holds tremendous value - not just for you, but for all those you touch.

The Cultural Paradox of Uniqueness

Our complex relationship with uniqueness begins early. Many of our
educational systems, workplaces, and social institutions were designed during the Industrial Age, where most of the work was routine, and creativity, adaptability, and innovation were not required - thus conformity and predictability were prized above all.
This cultural legacy creates a paradox: we're told to "be ourselves" while simultaneously receiving powerful signals to conform. The cost of this contradiction is high - diminished creativity, reduced engagement, and perhaps most significantly, the loss of the innovation and insights only you can share.
Consider this: every significant breakthrough in human history has come from someone who was willing to see things differently, to question the status quo, to stand apart. Your willingness to embrace your authentic nature is not merely a personal indulgence - it's potentially your greatest contribution.

The Courage of Self-Recognition

One of the most challenging aspects of embracing your uniqueness is simply acknowledging it exists. Many of us have become masters at deflecting recognition of our strengths. When complimented, we minimize ("Oh, it was nothing"), deflect ("I had a lot of help"), or discount ("Anyone could have done that").
This automatic response pattern often stems from early conditioning around humility or fear of standing out. Yet truly acknowledging your strengths isn't arrogance, it's accuracy. And accuracy is essential for living authentically.

*Reflection Exercise: The Mirror of Truth
Set aside 20 minutes with your notebook to explore these prompts:

1. What strengths do others consistently see in you that you find difficult to acknowledge?
2. How do you typically respond when someone compliments one of these strengths?
3. What early messages did you receive about standing out or being "too much" in some way?
4. How might fully owning your strengths benefit not just you, but those around you (your partner, your children, your friends)?
5. If you were to respond to recognition with simple acceptance, what might change in your relationships and work?
   

The Discomfort of Growth

Chronic comfort leads to a lack-luster life; meaningful growth requires discomfort. The very act of embracing your uniqueness - of standing apart from the crowd when necessary - inherently involves some degree of discomfort.
Yet there's a world of difference between destructive discomfort that diminishes you and constructive discomfort that expands your capacity. Learning to distinguish between these forms of discomfort is crucial for authentic growth.

Constructive discomfort feels like stretching - challenging but ultimately energizing. It might manifest as the nervous excitement before sharing an unconventional idea or the vulnerable uncertainty of trying a new approach aligned with what makes you truly feel alive.

Destructive discomfort feels like shrinking - depleting and diminishing. It often comes from forcing yourself into molds that don't fit, or suppressing your natural tendencies in order to please others.

* Reflection Exercise: The Quality of Discomfort
For one week, maintain a simple two-column journal: In the first column, note moments of discomfort and briefly describe the situation.
In the second column, assess whether this was constructive discomfort (growth-oriented) or destructive discomfort (diminishing).
At the end of the week, look for patterns. Are you experiencing enough constructive discomfort to grow? Are you enduring unnecessary destructive discomfort that signals misalignment? Leadership That Liberates Uniqueness "My job is to foster the talent, passion, and ingenuity of each of our people." This powerful mindset represents the essence of leadership that truly honors uniqueness. When leaders see themselves as talent liberators rather than task managers, they create environments where distinctive strengths naturally emerge, resulting in stronger teams. The most effective approach combines clear direction with personal autonomy - what I call the balance between being "kind and firm." This means:

1. Establishing clear goals and expectations about outcome
2. Providing resources and removing obstacles
3. Granting freedom in how the work gets done
4. Celebrating diverse approaches that achieve results
   

This leadership philosophy recognizes that people perform at their best when their unique capabilities are acknowledged and activated. Rather than prescribing exactly how work should be done, liberating leaders create the conditions where each person can contribute in ways that leverage their distinctive strengths.

*Leadership Exercise: The Liberating Question
Whether you lead a team formally or influence others informally, try this approach in your next collaborative project: After clarifying the desired outcome, ask: "Given your unique strengths and perspective, how would you approach this?" Then listen - really listen - to the response. Resist the urge to redirect to your preferred method unless absolutely necessary.
This simple practice acknowledges that there are multiple successful paths to most destinations. It signals that you value the distinctive contribution each person brings, not just their ability to execute your ideas.
So, what will you do today to honor the call of your authentic self?