The Leadership Looking Glass – What Mask Are You Wearing Today?

As leaders, we often get so caught up in our day-to-day responsibilities that we forget to think about how we come across to the people around us, and how their actions, communications and concerns may be driven by their perception of the persona we put forward.  When was the last time you took a long gaze in the leadership looking glass? Are you showing up at work as your authentic self or is there a mask that gets in the way?  In honor of Halloween, let’s look at some typical masks a leader might wear. Do you recognize yourself in any of them?

The Super Hero

You have confidence, boundless energy and can seemingly handle any problem that comes your way (“Bring it on, tall buildings!”) You are protective of your team.  In your need for speed you often charge ahead with activities that could be delegated.

While your team may admire your ability to “handle it all,” they’d like the chance to solve issues and take on more responsibilities and, perhaps, risks themselves. They may be hesitant to give you honest feedback or make alternative suggestions as you appear to have it all under control.

The Alien

You’re distracted right now – could be the job, could be personal issues – and your mind seems to be on another planet. You’re communicating less frequently with your team, and you appear out of touch with their projects and issues.

Your team is wondering where you parked the UFO.  They miss their leader, and are frustrated with the gap left by no clear direction.

Your lack of communication has made them stop trying. Some are considering
abandoning ship.

The King

You may ask for ideas and input, but in the end you like things “your way.”

You have tendency to redo your team’s work rather than discuss or give them constructive
feedback because it’s faster and, well, you know how it should be done.  You sing “I Did It My Way” in the shower.

Your team is beginning to lose confidence in their skills and ability to make an impact. They’re hesitant to make suggestions because they know they’ll be rejected or ignored.  Some are beginning to wonder why they show up at all.

Angry Bird

You’re not happy at work right now and it shows in your attitude.  You snap at team members and colleagues, you have no patience for work that is less than what you expected or later than when it was due, no matter the reason. You delegate as much as possible.  You’re frequently unavailable.

Your team is feeling overworked and underappreciated. You appear unapproachable so they’re afraid to communicate their thoughts and feelings to you.  The less you communicate with your team, the less they communicate with each other.  The silos have been built, and collaboration is not a priority.

At Halloween you can put on a mask and be whoever you want to be.  But Halloween is one day. The rest of the year you need to remove the mask and be a strong, dependable, and visionary leader.  Only then will you be able to move yourself, your team and your organization forward.

Till next time,

Karen

P.S. Our new website launch is just days away! Stay tuned!!

Show Stoppers

As I sit here trying to write my blog about Show Stoppers – those things that stop us in our tracks and keep us one step from achieving what we want to achieve – I think…what is stopping me from writing this blog?  Oh…that’s right…I have to be creative, provide substance and most of all give the reader a reason to read.  Just a little bit of pressure, wouldn’t you say?  At this moment, my preference would be to stop thinking and do almost anything else instead of sitting at my computer.  Maybe I’ll go do laundry.  Now, that is a sad state of affairs!  With that said, the important element is to “push through” the negative self-talk and write something meaningful.  I’ll try my best.

Yes, we all have that little person sitting on our shoulder that says to us “are you crazy, you can’t do that” or “you do not have the guts to pull that one off”  or “you’ve never done that before, what makes you think you can do it now?”  There is not a human being alive who does not have doubts about something they want to achieve.  For some, those doubts will fuel us.  For others, those voices will stop us in our tracks and paralyze us.  It is easier to go do the wash.  Yes, indeed this is true.

Stand tall, be confident, provide the reasons you are the right fit and candidate for the position and push through that F-E-A-R.  Own it, make it yours and get that new job.

Fear is an overwhelming emotion.  Susan Jeffers says – “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”  Well, that’s very easy to say; however, making it a reality is taking it to another level.  What we have to do is really think through what our personal Show Stoppers are.  What stops us in our tracks and prevents us from getting that next work assignment?  What stops us in our tracks and prevents us from taking the leap and becoming an entrepreneur, going back to school for something we’ve always wanted to learn – doing whatever will help us fulfill our dreams?  It’s that darn four letter word – F-E-A-R.

As I began to write The Get Real Guide, I realized that in a lot of my personal career development work the focus was on accomplishments, skills, etc.  No one was asking me, “what is preventing you from doing what you want to do?”  Now, I did all types of work around what I wanted; however, I wasn’t answering that dreaded question – What gets in your way?  I realized that I was very similar to others, yes, I was confident, yes, I wanted more and yes, I had “stuff” that kept messing with my head.  I had to address that “stuff.”  UGH…is just about all I had to say.

So, yep, if you have read or worked with me, you know what is coming next…ya gotta get stuff down on paper.  If you can see it, you can own it and then you can do something about it.  So, what’s on your list?  Write down 5 Show Stoppers that have gotten in your way in the past.  The reason I say 5 is because we don’t want you to get carried away and then completely get overwhelmed by what you think you have to “fix.”  Five is plenty.  This can be tough because you have to own what you don’t do well.  Here are some Show Stoppers from The Get Real Guide.  Do any of these resonate for you – argumentative; arrogant; closed-minded; defensive; fear of success (it ain’t just failure some of us are afraid of); insecure, lack of goal setting; perfectionist (yep, I said it – are you a perfectionist?); timid.

Now, take a look at your list.  As you look at your list of Show Stoppers, think about specific times when they have impacted your life, your decisions, your career.  Why and how did they make an impact?  As you look at each one, write down next to it what you are going to do the next time it rears its ugly little head.  An example – fear of success.  As crazy at it sounds, a lot of people are afraid of success.  If this is on your list, how are you going to overcome it?  What success are you afraid of?  When did it impact you?  What do you want next for yourself where you believe it will show up?  What measures are you going to take to squash it?  You want to be thinking about this prior to ‘it’ showing up.  If you have an opportunity for a job promotion, or you have an opportunity to interview for a new job in a new company, be prepared and show ‘em what you are made of.  Stand tall, be confident, provide the reasons you are the right fit and candidate for the position and push through that F-E-A-R.  Own it, make it yours and get that new job.

Doesn’t that all sound so easy?  Hardly!  It takes work.  It takes confidence in yourself and it takes a plan.  And, you know what, you are worth it!

Till the next time… Don’t Stop Believing!!!