Welcome to Week 33 of the Authenticity@Work Leadership Tool-kit! My intention for this series is to share a quick tool each week to help you lead with more authenticity, adaptability and inspiration so we can together create workplaces where we bring the best of ourselves and inspire others. So grab a journal and an accountability partner to make these practices even more powerful for you!
In last week’s post we discussed accepting all of our emotions and how those emotions have a place in the workplace. Did you journal about emotions you do and don’t supress in given situations?
Do you remember a teacher, a coach, a mentor, a boss who saw potential in you that you perhaps did not recognize in yourself? How did that person impact your life? What did it call forth in you?
Giving others an A is about believing that each person has a unique contribution, looking for that uniqueness, and developing that individual strength in each person instead of writing him or her off. It is about guiding people toward the places they will be able to contribute their best work.
What it means to give others an A is to see and accept them as they are rather than constantly compare them to a standard or expectation we have of them—how they should be, think or act. The fact that they don’t meet our expectations doesn’t mean that they don’t have value; it’s a basic stance of respect for them. It is also how leaders get the best out of people.
When we compare how someone should be to how he or she actually is, somehow we always find something lacking. On the other hand, when we accept others as they are—and get interested in who they are and what their dreams and passions are – our curiosity creates a wonderful partnership for them to grow into their potential—wherever that might be.
Of course, this does not mean that we don’t give them feedback in the areas of the job where we want them to improve for the sake of their growth and development. It means that the feedback is coming from a place within us that cares for them rather than a place that finds them deficient. That is the stance of respect that we take.
The question we ask is not what’s missing but what opportunity can be created here.
This Week’s Tool
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is one person who you’re currently judging (not fully accepting as they are)?
- What saboteurs within you (link to Week 17) may be present when you’re judging this person?
- What behaviors are these saboteurs driving within you?
- What allies (link to Week 17) could serve in this situation?
- What new behaviors will you commit to practicing with this person with the help of your allies?
This exercise may be helpful to discuss with your accountability partner or a trusted friend.
Get the latest resources for Authenticity@Work (this tab will get updated with all kinds of cool resources). Curious to know more about the book? Read the reviews about Wired for Authenticity here.
