Remove the Mask
After a recent podcast, my guest said, “I had so much fun today.You are so easy to talk and so willing to share yourself.” My response was simple: “I’m just being me.” One of the things I love about podcasting is that my guests give me much to consider. What value does our authenticity add to our clients?
Presently, we suffer from an epidemic of “masking”. Why? Are we protecting ourselves from people? It’s as if we are attending the Venice Biennale dressed to the nines in business attire while wearing elaborate masks to disguise who we really are. What is wrong with being who we are?
Many people today have concerns about being their real selves. Are they too smart? Know-it-alls? Perhaps too judgemental? Afraid to be who they truly are? It takes a great deal of energy to suppress our true selves. Did you know: we are all made of energy molecules? By restricting our energy, we internalize it, sending it inside our bodies. This causes inflammation and when done repeatedly, can cause illness. A high price to pay.
People appreciate honest, direct language. We must remember, though: most communication is nonverbal. If your verbal communication is not aligned with your body language, you are sending mixed messages. How might you combat that? Offer constructive language, delivered in a respectful manner, and aligned with what you are truly feeling. As an outside resource you are not only modeling new behavior but demonstrating the courage to BE.
Corporate America suffers from disengagement. Pope Francis recently said in an interview with Norah O’Donnell, “There is a global pandemic of worker disillusionment”.
A recent Gallup Poll found that worker engagement is as low now as it was in 2015. This is a problem for American businesses wherever they are doing business in the world. The tide needs to be turned.This is an epidemic.
Authenticity needs to start at the top of organizations. The “do what I say not what I do” is no longer working. I believe it never worked. When workers feel empowered to be authentic, they are more likely to be creative and innovative.
Authorized project teams with clearly articulated roles and accountabilities provide an efficient way for teams to get their work done. As a team member, they are perceived as being more trustworthy. This builds overarching trust while adding to the worker’s personal satisfaction, overall workplace morale, and the business’ bottom line.
It is essential for today’s workforce to speak up. Ask for clarity if you don’t understand what is expected of you. Offer another suggestion if you think your boss is on the wrong track. Ask your manager who you might speak to to provide a different point of view. These are just a few suggestions. I assume you may have many more. I think that’s worth it… don’t you? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.