Who you are seeps out. It can’t be helped.
I tripped over this thought today: Leadership is less about what you do and more about who you are.
In the past few months I have been placing more attention on “the who” instead of “the what.” Think about it: The same leadership tactic used by two different leaders will garner two different results. Same exact tactic, same exact delivery, same recipient! How can that be? Because the recipients of our brilliant leadership always strain our messages through the “you” filter.
Who we are seeps out. Every eye roll, off comment, inaction, action, or intention. What we believe seeps out. It sends subtle messages to those around us. And after a few million years each of us have figured out how to read people instantly. We can just feel it.
I think we have reached an inflection point for BS tolerance. The manufactured environment of the office that allowed BS to mutate unchecked has given way to an era of required authenticity. BS is no match for Zoom. We’re permitting ourselves to see through it and to want more.
Do yourself and your team a solid. Take off the metaphorical mask (but do keep the real mask on). Tell them what you believe, show them who you are. The rewards go to those willing to put themselves on the line.
