You’re like who, exactly?

A little while ago, we wrote about the recent

[gimmick]

trend for ‘leaders’ to search out their authenticity. When that quest is coupled to a corporate communications function… well the result was never going to be pretty.

[we will use the term 'authority figure' for leader here on out - not only because it's more accurate, but also because it doubles our word count - and eventual fee]

Here’s the deal:

• The authority figure wants to create an impression of what he is not
• The professional in the communicator knows they need to support the authority figure in creating that impression
• But the writer in the communicator just wants to describe the leader they wish the authority figure was (but isn’t)

Surprisingly, everyone wins – because they all draw upon stereotypes to express themselves. And the funny thing about stereotypes is that… well… er… we all have them – and I don’t have to agree with anyone else about what mine means to me. We can choose the same stereotype and take away very different meanings.

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