Why ‘authenticity’ is my word of the year

Rizz. Situationship. Beige flag. All ‘words of the year’, according to various dictionaries. As is ‘authentic’. Which surprised me, as it’s been around a while, and is the root of the name I chose for my media training and presentation training business, Authenticity.  

What does authentic mean?

It’s the Merriam-Webster dictionary that chose ‘authentic’ as its word of the year, and it gives several similar meanings. There’s the concept of being real, actual or original, and also the personal dimension; ‘true to one’s own spirit or personality’, which is the definition that has probably driven this year’s spike in searches. Musicians Taylor Swift and Sam Smith have spoken about the search for their authentic voice. In a world of AI, deepfakes and bots, authenticity is what celebrities, brands and businesses strive to achieve. 

So, as we increasingly question the source and reliability of what we’re being told when we consume media or interact with brands, authenticity is the common element audiences are searching for. That’s why I chose to put authenticity at the core of the brand for my media training and presentation business. It’s how I hope people will be able to communicate in the media or in panel discussions after taking part in one of my training courses. 

How can I be authentic in interviews?

Well before authentic became a word of the year, the people I trained often asked me ‘how can I be myself’ in an interview; it’s just a chat about work, right? Yet, the scrutiny of a journalist’s questioning, or the distraction of cameras, microphones and lights can make being your authentic self very difficult. So how do you connect with your true voice in a media interview, or when taking part in a panel debate? Here’s a top three…

1. Prepare your content. What are the likely questions you’ll be asked? What are the worst questions? Answer them now, and learn those responses. 

2. Rehearse. Like most things in life, practice makes perfect. If you’ve not taken part in an  on-stage debate before, or a media interview, find a friend to run through the questions with you. 

3. Prepare to perform. Don’t underestimate the importance of getting in the right headspace before you take part in an interview. In the 15 minutes before you go live, stay focused on the content you’ve prepared, and only that content; don’t be distracted by phones and emails. Use the time to visualise success. 

My media training and presentation training courses at Authenticity will help you rehearse and refine those three elements, and will gove you lots more practical advice. I’ve helped CEOs, senior leaders and volunteer charity workers to create authentic content before they met the media, and I can help you too, at authenticitymediatraining@gmail.com