Book Review—The Authenticity Code: The Art and Science of Success and Why You Can’t Fake It to Make It

This book review is about The Authenticity Code™: The Art and Science of Success and Why You Can’t Fake It to Make It by Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman, Founder and CEO of Inside Out Learning, Inc. (IOL), an award‐winning global leadership, team and organization development consulting business. The Authenticity Code™ will be available on October 19, 2021, but you may pre-order it now from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

I’d like to thank Greenleaf Book Group Press and Jeff Heller at Farrow Communications for providing me with an advanced copy of the book.

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman’s book, The Authenticity Code™: The Art and Science of Success and Why You Can’t Fake It to Make It is written in a parable style like Life’s Golden Ticket: A Story about Second Chances by Brendon Burchard.

The two characters in Dr. Sharon’s book, Rachel Hannigan and Joshua Armstrong, work at World Wide Synergistics and are considered for the associate director of sales promotion. After they present their cases to Ron Burk, vice president of sales, they didn’t impress enough to qualify. Instead of giving up, Ron and Victoria Reynolds, VP of Human Resources, teach Rachel and Joshua what they need to know about The Authenticity Code™ Program. Like the character in Brendon’s book, Rachel and Joshua get a second chance to prove they can be the associate director of Sales.

When you read The Authenticity Code™, you’ll see that you can apply Dr. Lamm-Hartman’s practical tools immediately. Throughout the book, you’re given a chance to self-reflect and “decide who you truly are and what you really want from life and work—and how to go about getting it.” You’ll discover how to become a more authentic leader or professional. Furthermore, you may choose to apply the lessons to your personal life, i.e., become a more authentic spouse or parent.

Let’s take a deeper look at The Authenticity Code™.

The Science of Success

The Authenticity Code™ teaches you Dr. Sharon’s science of success, which is Your Presence + Your Audience + Your Presentation = Your Success.

Because Rob Burk wants Rachel and Joshua to succeed, he reminds them that World Wide Synergistics offered The Authenticity Code™: Authentic Presence and Presentation Skills—APPS—course as a benefit to employees. He can’t believe that neither of them participated in the “special gift” to the company’s employees.

Ron explains that “APPS is a program for people with professional advancement or leadership potential. He goes on to say that, “It helps you crack The Authenticity Code™, which is Your Presence + Your Audience + Your Presentation = Your Success.” Ron agrees to mentor Rachel and Joshua for an hour once a week to help them develop their authentic presence and presentation skills.

Throughout the chapters, Ron (with help from Victoria) reviews The Authenticity Code™ with Rachel and Josh. For instance, in chapter 5,  they learn the importance of knowing the audience because it’s the first step to effectiveness. “The more you know about your audience—especially the key decision-maker(s)—the better your presentation will likely go.” Dr. Sharon provides detailed descriptions of IOL’s four style recognition preferences (four personality types):

  • People People
  • Party People
  • Planner People
  • Point People

For instance, if someone identifies with “Point People,” their pattern is guarded/direct and wants to get to the bottom line and decide quickly. I appreciated the inclusion of the Style Recognition Assessment and leaned toward being a “point” person. I want to get in and get out, much like when I perform an internet search. If I can’t find what I’m looking for, I’m off and onto the next website.

As you read The Authenticity Code™, you build upon learning “how to become an effective communicator—and to let your authenticity and your skills speak for you. You’re given a personal road map to the art and science of your success.”

Can You Fake It to Make It?

You’ve probably heard career coaches, professional development coaches, and life coaches utter the words, “Fake until you make it.” Dr. Sharon has a different point of view—you can’t fake it until you make it. She demonstrates this throughout The Authenticity Code™ with Rachel and Joshua.

For instance, Rachel appears to be outgoing and outspoken, and full of confidence. But toward the end of the book admits she’s a perfectionist; it’s her way of covering up that others may learn she’s not as good as she appears to be. Josh is the antithesis to Rachel. He seems to be introverted and laid back. Later in the book, he admits he tends to be sarcastic, making people think he doesn’t respect them.

If you’ve ever wondered about the value of professional development or why professional development is important, you’ll get a better understanding from reading The Authenticity Code™. At the end of the day, “success in any endeavor demands authenticity, and breaking the code requires this formula: Your Presence + Your Audience + Your Presentation = Your Success.”

Final Thoughts on The Authenticity Code™

I appreciated the parable format of The Authenticity Code™ and practical exercises at the end of each chapter. However, I was taken aback when I read (spoiler alert) that Joshua attended Vanderbilt University. His dialogue (at least to me) didn’t come across as someone who attended an Ivy League college. Then again, perhaps it’s an unconscious bias I may have. The same goes for Rachel. Her dialogue made her seem like a spoiled teenager. She and Josh came across as teens to me, even though they’re 30 years old!

As for Ron and Victoria, they’re definitely fictional because most of us have never had a VP or HR person at our employer or previous employer taken interest in them. In fact, you may have learned that the job of the human resources department is to protect the company. Perhaps things have changed?

Inside-Out Learning has taught the concepts in The Authenticity Code™ to their Fortune 500, mid and small-size business clients. Results across thousands of clients include: getting promoted, landing a dream job, significantly increasing sales and revenue, developing confidence and loyalty, greatly enhancing professional, leadership, and communication skills, and improving your personal life. The promotion rate for individuals is 50-80% within a year of completing one of the three to five-day programs. Now you have the opportunity to achieve these exceptional results in an easy-to-read book format. -Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman

Overall, The Authenticity Code™ provides you with professional development and leadership and professional coaching from the comfort of your own home. You can improve your communication and influencing skills! To learn more about Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman, please visit Inside Out Learning, Inc. (IOL).

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