Should I Bring my Authentic Self to Work? 2013 IABA National Meeting Christal Morris August 1, 2013

Today’s objectives Objectives: To prepare you for balancing your personality and values with those of our firm culture, while: Defining your authentic self Familiarizing you with your own style Identifying your life passion © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Introduction Most of us know one or two acquaintances who do not really fit into the "successful" life they have chosen For example, have you ever met… a powerful attorney whose real passion is music? or a wealthy banker who loves the outdoors? or a highly decorated military officer who wishes he were an entrepreneur? It's easy to choose or accept one's life's work for the wrong reason. © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Your authentic self Your authentic self is the unique combination of all your qualities: It is the expression of your core values through all your quirks and strengths Skills Abilities Interests Talents Limits Insights Experiences Memories Beliefs Purpose Wisdom © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Your authentic self Increase the congruence between what you do, your goals, beliefs and values. Pay attention to how you spend your time. Do the activities you spend your time on advance your most important goals? Do your goals reflect your values? Do your values reflect your authentic self? Reappraise your values, beliefs, goals and actions to improve the congruence As people become more authentic they often become more rational, realistic, intuitive, creative, independent, flexible, able to manage change, willing to accept blame and correct their mistakes, generous, respectful of others, fair and cooperative. This congruence earns the trust of others © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Johari Window The Open Self Blind Hidden The Undiscovered Things I know about myself Things I don’t know about myself Things others know about me don’t know about me The Open Self Blind Hidden The Undiscovered © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Iceberg of Differences Gender Race Physical Ability Language Sexual Orientation Religion Value Systems Heritage Function Life Experiences Thought Processes Education Nationality Family Status Talents Beliefs Skills Perspectives Age © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Iceberg of Differences What do we KNOW about someone versus what do we ASSUME? How could this influence how we INTERPRET situations? How does that IMPACT the decisions we make? Gender Race Physical Ability Language Orientation Religion Education Culture Service Line Tenure with the Firm Thought Processes Nationality Family Status FWA Heritage Skills Talents Age © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Your authentic self Misaligned Authentic Person Who you are What you do Do who you are Authentic behaviors Alien behaviors © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

What is your personality style? How are you behaving at work? There are many applications and assessments. Let’s talk about one of them: MBTI DISC Social styles Communication styles Personal values 16 types, no wrong answer © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

MBTI – Which is your most natural energy orientation? Extroverted Characteristics Act first, think/reflect later Feel deprived when cutoff from interaction with the outside world Usually open to and motivated by outside world of people and things Enjoy wide variety and change in people relationships Introverted Characteristics Think/reflect first, then Act Regularly require an amount of "private time" to recharge batteries Motivated internally, mind is sometimes so active it is "closed" to outside world Prefer one-to-one communication and relationships © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

MBTI – Which way of perceiving or understanding is automatic or natural? Sensing Characteristics Mentally live in the Now, attending to present opportunities Using common sense and creating practical solutions is automatic-instinctual Memory recall is rich in detail of facts and past events Like clear and concrete information; dislike guessing when facts are "fuzzy" Intuitive Characteristics Mentally live in the Future, attending to future possibilities Using imagination and creating/inventing new possibilities is automatic-instinctual Memory recall emphasizes patterns, contexts, and connections Best improvise from theoretical understanding Comfortable with ambiguous, fuzzy data and with guessing its meaning © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

MBTI – Which way of forming judgments and perceiving is most natural? Thinking Characteristics Instinctively search for facts and logic in a decision situation Naturally notices tasks and work to be accomplished Easily able to provide an objective and critical analysis Accept conflict as a natural, normal part of relationships with people Feeling Characteristics Instinctively employ personal feelings and impact on people in decision situations Naturally sensitive to people needs and reactions Naturally seek consensus and popular opinions Unsettled by conflict; have almost a toxic reaction to disharmony © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

MBTI - What is your action orientation towards the outside world? Judging Characteristics Plan many of the details in advance before moving into action Focus on task-related action; complete meaningful segments before moving on Work best and avoid stress when able to keep ahead of deadlines Naturally use targets, dates and standard routines to manage life Perceiving Characteristics Comfortable moving into action without a plan; plan on-the-go Like to multitask, have variety, mix work and play Naturally tolerant of time pressure; work best close to the deadlines Instinctively avoid commitments which interfere with flexibility, freedom and variety © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Life balance wheel exercise What is important to you… …vs. how you are spending your time © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Are you using your strengths? When you are not able to use your strengths at work, chances are that you: Dread going to work Have more negative than positive interactions with your colleagues Treat your customers poorly Tell your friends what a miserable company you work for Achieve less on a daily basis Have fewer positive and creative moments © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Where do I start? Don Miguel Ruiz shares centuries of Toltec wisdom in his book The Four Agreements. To apply this wisdom, choose to create these profound agreements with yourself: Be impeccable with your word Do not take anything personally Do not make assumptions Always do your best © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Summary Is it Luck? Passion Keep in mind life is not a dress rehearsal © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Summary “Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of judgment, or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you're supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social mask on to please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic self” - Dr. Phil © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com

Should you bring your authentic self to work? Group discussion Should you bring your authentic self to work? © 2013 Towers Watson. All rights reserved. towerswatson.com