Today was no different than most mornings where I rush to do a workout at the gym before beginning my work. Walking out, feeling like I was being good to my body and mind, I hopped into my car to head home. I turned on the radio and started listening to a talk show. It caught my attention as the individual being interviewed shared:
“I was a hard worker in my technology job. I did well but was the guy in the lunchroom who made jokes. My co-workers got together and signed me up for a local comedy show. I couldn’t believe they did that but I decided I would try it out, especially because they believed I was funny. So I performed at the show and something inside of me clicked. I felt like this was what I should be doing. And from that point I never looked back. Comedy was what I was meant to do!”
Wow! I just kept thinking about this “awakening” of sorts for this tech guy and wondered how that must have felt to finally pursue the life work he was meant to follow.
Has this ever happened to you? Did you have a pivotal moment or a situation that made you realize you were not leading with your real mask?
I had this experience years ago when I was a bank-lending officer, fresh out of business school. The job was fine but I felt something was missing. After speaking with a colleague who was a human resources director, I started to get excited. Something inside me was screaming out- “Take a chance”!
Are you ready to explore these five questions to see if you are leading with your real mask?
Is my job or career energizing me?
Although we all have good days and bad days at work, we should take stock in whether our jobs are making us feel vital, relevant and fulfilled. Are we still growing so that we don’t feel we are at a standstill? We may be seasoned SME’s, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new things to learn.
[Tweet “Taking stock in our jobs today helps leaders make changes tomorrow.”]
What parts of my job aren’t working?
Next look around your work world and see what keeps you in the flow and what keeps causing friction.
- Identify the tasks that can be delegated or shared
- If we are feeling a bit disconnected from the people we work with or collaborate with, it may be time to get to know them in a more personal way
- Decide how to manage your day differently if you are constantly overwhelmed or out of time
What have I always wanted to try?
Even though I had a particular degree, I needed to explore other possibilities to bring fulfillment to my career. Ask yourself what areas have you always wanted to learn more about and how can you make that happen. You might want to research a particular course or certification. You might want to attend a webinar. You might want to talk to someone in a different field that fascinates you. Don’t delay. Your dreams are worth it. And it may not be so difficult to switch.
[Tweet “To put on your real leadership mask include your dreams.”]
What would colleagues and friends say are my real strengths?
Just like the man in the radio interview, what would the people you work with say about your talents? Our friends know us more deeply and probably could give us meaningful and honest feedback about what they see as our strengths. Give it a try and ask a teammate or someone important in your life about your hidden gifts.
Am I open to a change?
To swap out an inauthentic mask for the real one requires courage. It begs us to confront our truths and possibly follow a different road. This does not mean we need to make huge moves. I stayed with the same bank and just jumped to a different department.
- Choose what the next step might be
- Carefully lay out a plan
- Find a buddy to help hold you accountable
- If the first move is rocky, don’t give up
How do you lead with your real mask? What stories can you share to help us see the importance of wearing our real masks?
Your last question is one that many people need to truly sit with and consider. “Am I open to change?” I’ve worked with a lot of people who are masterful at telling me all the reason why “not now.” They’d rather live stifled and out of energy than be open to a real shift.
Thanks for sharing that story you caught on the radio too. Love that the guy you heard had the courage to change and step into the unknown because he finally felt an aliveness he never knew was missing.
Thanks, Terri!
~ Alli
At times we are so good at making excuses for why the status quo is working out just fine. Maybe we don’t have the fire in our bellies to step outside of our comfort level. Maybe we aren’t asking ourselves the right questions. Maybe we just need a coach, like yourself, to help us get unstuck.
I was fascinated by this man’s story of moving from a technology career to comedian. I loved how he was able to embrace what really excited him.
Thanks Alli for your terrific insights!
I agree with Alli, being able to be open to change is the key component to authenticity.
You’ve framed some great questions here Terri. If people are honest and open to ask these aloud to others, and really examine what energizes them, then much workplace disengagement would simply vanish.
Great post!
I love your point, Paul, that being able to ask these questions aloud to others can be so impactful!
Workplace disengagement can derail any team and when we each lead with honesty and being who we need to be, we are more likely to cultivate high performance.
Thanks Paul for stopping by and adding your great insights!
Great post. What’s interesting in this case is that his co-workers could see it more than he could. When I finally made the decision to leave my corporate job to go out on my own as a keynote speaker, author and consultant, it was a wild how many people said “oh that’s what you were born to do.” Born to do, 45 years later….
The people who know us through and through, especially those on our teams, probably have a better view of our strengths than we do. We sometimes can’t see beyond our daily struggles and successes. What this is all pointing to is that we may want to check in with our co-workers or colleagues periodically on what areas they think we are strong in and what areas we may have a blind spot. The answers may surprise us.
Thanks Karin!
Great post Terri!
I love your story and Karin’s comment… “Born to do…”
I love the mystery of unraveling what it is we are each born to do.
The joy or realizing that any pain in our lives makes us stronger, softer, wiser and more prepared to do that thing.
And the feeling of overcoming perceived obstacles when we choose courage instead of fear.
Those very obstacles teach us so much about our resiliency and courage. It may take a bit of probing and self-reflection, but when we find our real mask we can soar and lead authentically.
Thanks Chery!