It’s been long said that sometimes to succeed that you have to “fake it till you make it.” That this can be taken too far, too fast was demonstrated by disgraced CEO Elizabeth Holmes, founder of scandal plagued startup Theranos. (The story of her rise and fall, Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, is one of the finest examples of business journalism presented in book from that I have come across. It is a cautionary tale that should be read by every C-Level executive. )
Still, there is something to be said for taking an “assumptive approach” to one’s career or business plan. A short article from the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern may help you strike the right balance. As the author says, “We shouldn’t overlook the psychological distress that comes with inauthentic behavior,” she says. “Just as an immoral act violates widely accepted societal moral norms and produces negative feelings, an inauthentic act violates being true to oneself, and it can take a similar toll.” “Fake it Until You Make It? Not So Fast”
