What actually is an “authority” in business?
If you look up the definition, it revolves around law enforcement. To enforce obedience, to have control and to have power.
And when we start looking at authority in business, it starts to open a whole new can of worms.
People trust authorities, right? We need to “do” something or “be” something to position ourselves as that authority, right?
This is where the conflict starts to come in. Do I need to start finger pointing? Do I need to start throwing shade and demanding control? Or my personal favourite - do I need to dress up in the “Boss Babe” suit and the 6-inch heels and start cracking the whip?
In this episode of the ATTRACT Podcast, I share my "hot take" on what you really need to do, and who you really need to be in order to position yourself as an authority in your industry. I also share an exercise that will get you reflecting on your own authority.
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What you’ll learn from this episode of ATTRACT:
What it means to “be” an authority
What every authority has in common
How you can start embracing your strengths to step into your authority
An exercise to get you reflecting on your authority
How to stand out as an authority without pointing fingers and throwing shade
Do you have to act a certain way to “be” an authority? The answer is absolutely not if you don’t want to. You’re not an authority for sh*tting on what people are doing wrong or shouting the loudest, you’re an authority because of HOW you get your clients results
And as someone who was labeled shy and quiet until about 25 years old, yet is often told that they’re an authority figure in the industry, I’m calling it that your authority already exists.
Shy, introverted and wise? Great. Let’s draw out WHY that helps your clients to go from A to B.
Bold, loud and extroverted? Great. Let’s draw out WHY that helps your clients to go from A to B.
Goofy, silly and playful? Great. Let’s draw out WHY that helps your clients to go from A to B.
You get the picture 😏
I don’t buy into the narrative that you have to shout about how much of an icon you are in order to make waves in your industry.
Your authority ALREADY EXISTS. You’re just not leading with it right now because it’s not how other people are doing it.
And I’m going to hazard a guess and say that right now you’re focusing on your weaknesses instead of your strengths. Why you’re not LOUD enough, why you’re not BOLD enough, why you’re not SERIOUS enough.
The one thing an authority has in common? They don’t show up and apologise for their weaknesses, they show up and lean into their strengths.
I had a call with an incredible leader last week who was feeling lost around her brand voice.
Her personality was fun, playful and self-proclaimed girl-next-door vibes, yet the industry was telling her she needed to be leather catsuit, heels and sh*tting on what her ideal client is doing wrong.
Yet instead of subscribing to that narrative, we drew out the authority that ALREADY EXISTED.
In this case, the girl-next-door vibe was actually being balanced with a successful business, and we quickly identified that this was one of the reasons her clients were hiring her.
Because she shows them that they can run a successful business without subscribing to the "Boss Babe" culture.
And when she saw how she could communicate WHY these traits helped her clients to go from A to B, she realised that THIS was her authority.
Not in a fear mongering, spicy, leather catsuit kind of way, but in a way that feels authentic and in integrity.
So here’s a little exercise you can do to draw out your authority.
Where are you hiding in your business right now that behind closed doors, is actually one of the reasons you’re a rockstar at what it is you do?
Where are you consciously - or unconsciously - telling yourself that you don’t have what it takes to create exactly what you want?
Go sit with it, journal on it, and start pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone until it becomes breezy to embrace it as a strength.
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