Find Out Who You Are...And Do It On Purpose
Many years ago, a well-respected leader in my community came to me in a panic. She was afraid to get a queer-presenting haircut because she was also an executive in a visible position at an even more visible company. She seemed so confident and trailblazing on the outside, but was so scared on the inside to be herself in a business world seemingly run by people who would no longer look or act like her if she had a weird haircut.
She got the haircut.
And her team and business continued to thrive because of her, not despite her.
I got a snazzy haircut for launch week :)
And I gave my hairdresser a copy of my book. She put it on display so that her clients would know about it.
This makes me happy for a few reasons.
There was a time when I would have felt embarrassed to have short hair that sticks up and out in every which way.
My hair is wild! And I've learned how to work *with* it rather than against it.
There was also a time when I would have been embarrassed to a) give my hairdresser a copy of my book lest I seem conceited or pushy, b) see it on display in a store lest people thumb through it and see how terrible it really is, c) take a selfie of said haircut next to said book, and d) post a photo of it all online.
But I am quite enjoying posting this today.
In The Leader's Journey, I talk about leadership superpowers, beliefs, and behavior rather than haircuts.
It's all the same.
I work with a lot of CEOs who seem confident on the outside and are just as scared as my colleague was, as I was (and still am at times, let’s be real) to be themselves. When this happens, they lose their power and create problems rather than what they and their companies want them to do—propel them forward.
Whether you’re the CEO or a rising leader, when you know who you are, know what lights you up, and bring others along on your journey, that's when you create the foundation for making the impact you want to make at work and in life.
I am beyond excited about my hairdresser sharing my book with her clients (who very much need it according to her!).
And I am just as excited for you all to read it so that you too can find out who you are as a leader. And do it on purpose.
