When I got the opportunity to give a TEDx talk, I knew exactly what I was going to speak on stage about drive and authenticity at work.
But as the date got closer, I started wondering what do I wear for the talk?
And everyone that I asked advice from basically said, you are an Indian, be proud, showcase your Indian side on stage.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I wear Indian outfits a lot of the time, but I’ve never done that for work.
If I open my work wear wardrobe, let’s say I have to give a presentation tomorrow, I will see nothing that says Indian in my current wardrobe.
So do I specifically wear something Indian for the first time for something that’s very professional or work related in my head or wear something that’s straight out of my wardrobe anyway.
It was a tough choice, but I went with what I would wear on any day to work something non-Indian.
Now that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t showcasing my Indian side, I am Indian, it doesn’t depend on what I wear. I feel so comfortable and so in my element that when I was giving the talk, it felt like I was just singing.
So, here’s what I want to share with you about authenticity.
- It’s not about how you want to show up as a label or a caricature.
- It’s not about showing up the way people want you to show up.
It’s how you show up when no one’s watching and no one cares.
For me, it’s about dressing up in non-Indian wear at work, being introverted, being a critical thinker and very results oriented. No one can take that out of me.
So what’s your authentic self at work?
