Being yourself at work
Can you be yourself at work? Like, your whole self?
Is it ok to talk about your hobbies, your family, your dreams?
Do you feel safe to share and show your emotions with your colleagues?
Are you able to say no to late night emailing, weekend requests, or meetings that conflict with life priorities?
I’m wrapping up a week in Dallas, working with a marketing team at a global entrepreneurship organization, and I’m struck by how much of “work” isn’t actually about the work.
It’s about people.
No matter the organization or what it produces: work is done by people. And us people? We are complex!
This year I’ve had a front row seat at some incredible organizations as they navigate change, create innovation, and bond as a team.
And the #1 issue I see getting in the way of their progress? Not being able to show up fully as their whole and authentic selves.
Stay with me for a sec, ok – because this goes deeper than a sound bite from a CEO on a stage somewhere, or a talking point from an expert on a leadership podcast.
Being able to show up as your full, whole, authentic self isn’t just about personal expression or fulfillment (although it also is, and that’s great).
It actually enables your work to be better, more efficient, and more innovative.
When your organization’s culture is set up so you can embody your whole self at work, your ways of Being change. You step into your curiosity, your honesty and your bravery. You allow your full range of emotions, and you tune into the truth of what they’re communicating to you. You hold yourself and see yourself as naturally creative, resourceful, and yes – whole.
These ways of Being enable you to Do things differently, too. When you show up as your whole self, you are empowered to:
Honestly acknowledge the realities of a situation
Openly address blindspots
Push back on unrealistic or misguided expectations
Challenge assumptions
Celebrate your wins
Learn from your mistakes
Feel inspired by the humanity of your colleagues, and so much more.
Designing a culture of authenticity is a multi-faceted, and sometimes convoluted, undertaking. Again, because people are multi-faceted (and sometimes convoluted!).
And yet – as management consultant Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
As you prepare for your work week ahead, here are some questions to consider:
In what ways am I able to show up as myself at work? Who and what makes this possible for me?
In what ways do I feel the need to stifle or suppress parts of me at work? What are the elements that make this feel unsafe or unacceptable?
What would be different – for the work I do and/or the way I feel about work – if I could be even 10% more of my whole self at work? What might that enable or create for me?
And if you’d like to go deeper, check out my recent conversation on The Future of Teamwork podcast: Harnessing Authenticity and Energy in Teamwork with Ashley Jablow. I’d love to hear what you think!
Onward,
