{"id":4318,"date":"2023-12-24T22:17:40","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T04:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10043\/?p=4318"},"modified":"2024-08-19T09:34:39","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T15:34:39","slug":"2023s-words-of-the-year-actually-make-sense-together-in-business-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atiba.com\/2023s-words-of-the-year-actually-make-sense-together-in-business-world\/","title":{"rendered":"2023’s words of the year actually make sense together in business world"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article originally appeared in\u00a0The Tennessean<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.\u201d\u2015 T.S. Eliot<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Merriam-Webster and Oxford University Press dictionary publishers just announced their respective words of the year for 2023.<\/p>\n

Webster\u2019s word is an oldie but a goody: \u201cauthentic.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Oxford went with something new that old people like me had never heard of before: \u201crizz.\u201d (Apparently \u201cSwifties\u201d came in a close second.)<\/p>\n

Both terms are timely.<\/p>\n

Authentic, defined as \u201ctrue to one\u2019s own personality, spirit, or character,\u201d feels like something we all need right now. \u00a0In a year that\u2019s been dominated by AI-generated content, misinformation challenges, and social media<\/a> feeds of perpetually happy people \u2014 craving authenticity makes sense.<\/p>\n

Rizz started as a slang term before it made its way into the dictionary.\u00a0 Oxford defines \u201crizz\u201d as \u201cstyle, charm or attractiveness\u201d or \u201cthe ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

When I asked my kids, they said it\u2019s just a cool way of saying \u201ccharisma\u201d and recommended that I not attempt to use it. I asked why not, and they laughed and pointed out that at my age, it wouldn\u2019t be authentic.<\/p>\n

In the workplace, both rizz and authenticity play important roles.<\/p>\n

Charisma (aka rizz), like it or not, is often seen as a requirement for those in leadership positions. Successful CEO\u2019s usually need some level of rizz to motivate their teams, network with other leaders, and make sales.<\/p>\n

But by the same token, authenticity is a critical trait for long-term success. \u00a0No matter how much rizz someone has, if they are inauthentic, they will eventually be exposed and lose the respect of their teams.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s tricky is that for most of us, having rizz and being authentic often oppose one another.<\/p>\n

Authenticity inherently involves exposing your vulnerabilities (we all have them), which sometimes can come off as uncharismatic. \u00a0No one likes a leader that is perceived to have a lack of confidence.<\/p>\n

But if you \u201cfake it till you make it\u201d with rizz \u2014 hiding your true self consistently \u2014 you live with the fear of eventually being exposed as an imposter.<\/p>\n

So, how can you have charisma and authenticity at the same time?<\/p>\n

At the risk of losing some rizz, I\u2019ll admit that I\u2019m no pro (especially on the rizz side.) But in looking at leaders I admire who have managed to balance the two, here\u2019s what they have in common:<\/p>\n