Before I answered to the title, “Author” (just kidding), I’ve been known to answer to Rebeccammendations. Why? Because that’s the name of my blog, and I “Rebeccammend” my favorite products, restaurants, recipes, career development strategies, and even books! And today is no exception. As I was preparing for the Build an Authentic Career webinar in February 2021 just before my book was published, I was thinking about the books and resources I turn to on the journey to building an authentic career. Here’s a graphic to help you follow along with this path to authenticity in your career.
What does building an authentic career mean? It means connecting with your identity, then bringing that forward in your interviews, meetings with mentors, in meetings and group work with colleagues, and when meeting with leaders at work. It means knowing your values, as Brant Menswar emphasizes in his book Black Sheep, so that you can act according to what you believe in. It means finding and doing work that feels good, makes you happy and fulfilled, and is aligned with your strengths and the things that make you uniquely you.
It’s about getting clear in what you need and what you want so that you can navigate (or negotiate) work situations effectively to get closer to what you desire and feel right about, like in Alex Carter’s Ask for More. This book is on my nightstand right now and I. Can’t. Get. Enough. Superfan over here.
It’s about feeling like yourself when you reach out to connect with others, and about preparing to connect with others, which means knowing your strengths, how to tell the right story about what you can offer and contribute to the other person or team or company, and knowing your personal brand so you feel confident when you develop career relationships, all covered in my book, KNOCK: How to Open Doors and Build Career Relationships that Matter.
It’s about feeling open to letting feelings and the real life aspects of our lives into conversations at work. It means opening up and sharing how we’re really feeling in the workplace, and being open to others helping us and taking actions to alleviate suffering of the people that we work with, as explored in Awakening Compassion at Work.
It’s about acknowledging that people can be surrounded by others and yet feel like they’re isolated, and disconnected, which can lead to stress and contribute to health risks, as highlighted in Together and Compassionomics.
It’s about learning how to listen for when colleagues and your professional network are in need, and finding solutions to help them. It’s about giving to others, even if it’s simply referring them to someone who can better help with their challenge, and knowing when to receive help in your professional life, as featured in Adam Grant’s Give and Take. Adam graciously contributed advice and stories about how to create high quality, mutually-beneficial giving relationships in your life and your career in KNOCK, and he has set the example for many of us on how to build high quality relationships and powerful communities.
Looking for a place to start on your path to building an authentic career? Check out these “Rebeccammended” books and share what YOU find helpful in centering your work interactions around your values, and bringing your successes and even your tough experiences to conversations and to help others.
Authenticity is a key element of Chapter 3: Own It, in KNOCK, and I look forward to your feedback on the stories, tips, and resources on how to bring that to life in your career once you have the book in your hands! Sign up to get it!