Very thoughtful response, Ed. Thank you for bringing to this the awkwardness of new behaviors, even when those behaviors are consciously-chosen skills to support authentic action.

Enjoying your posts, Ed, as ever. This is an important seeming dilemma - how can you be authentic and self-monitor? Self-monitoring violates authenticity only if you are a one-dimensional being. As soon as you recognize a dynamic variety of perspectives and capabilities within you, you become aware of choice. Self-monitoring is about noting one's intentions, observing one's actions, noticing the consequences of those actions, and making choices about next intentions and actions. If those choices you make derive from values you hold and the ever-evolving mix of perspectives you take and capabilities you offer, the conflict between authenticity and self-monitoring dissolves. Let's note, though, that authentic doesn't mean wise or useful. The authentic leadership movement, if we want to call it that, sometimes confounds these. The real dilemma occurs when we believe inauthentic actions (such as speaking views we don't hold) would serve our authentic aims better than authentic actions. Post for another day... :-) Thanks, Ed, for raising important topics!