This is a story about Authentic Leadership and the Masks we sometimes wear to hide ourselves. It’s also a story about removing the masks to reveal hidden gifts of joy, freedom, creativity, and inner alignment. It is a story about connecting to our Authentic Self.
I was inspired to write this story after a recent conversation with a client. You might recognize yourself in the story or you might know someone who found themselves in a similar situation. Either way, I hope you will enjoy the story and it will trigger reflection.
Let us begin in an old fashion way.
Once upon a time, a freshly out of MBA leader, enthusiastic, full of energy, and passionate about making the world a better place, took on an important position in a prestigious company. His work ethic, knowledge, and experience got him quickly promoted and, in no time, he was asked to become the company’s CEO.He gladly accepted it, recognizing the role came with great privileges and enormous responsibilities. He knew, his decisions would impact not only the business but also the people’s careers, and often their lives.
Suddenly all eyes were on him and he started to feel even more pressure to perform. People looked up to him and gaged his every move. He noticed that if he came into the office worried about the board presentation, suddenly the whole office was feeling worried. If he was feeling insecure about how to proceed in a business transaction the business partners interpreted it as a lack of confidence. At times he felt watched, measured, and judged by the stakeholders. He started to become uncomfortable showing his feelings for fear of how people would react. Slowly, he started to close up and hide behind a mask.
He skillfully createdthe Hero Maskof the leader who knows it all, who is always on top, who has all the answers, who is upbeat, optimistic, and looks in control in stressful situations. He saw that when the Mask was on, his people followed him with more trust and confidence. This reinforced his belief the Mask was needed and, in its absence, he didn’t feel quite right. He started to identify himself with the Mask.
The Mask felt like the best solution at first, yet with time it became a burden. Playing the role took a lot of energy. With time he was more stressed, exhausted, and insecure. He felt burned out and disconnected from his authentic self. He wanted a change but was afraid of what would happen if he dropped the Mask.
Yet, he was aware he could not continue this way.
When he finally had the courage to reach out to me for a conversation, he was facing burnout. He clearly understood he needed to put himself first, look inside, and reconnect with his authentic, powerful self within. Through conversations, he became more aware of the stories that drove him to put on the Mask, learned how to quiet the self-sabotaging voices, and loved himself for who he really is. Together, we rewrote the story from a new perspective.
Now, he knows in his heart that showing up authentically and vulnerably is his superpower. By being true to himself, he became a true role model to his leadership team, who feels empowered to show us authentically as well.
If you resonated with this story, please share it with someone who needs to read it too.
Wearing a Mask is never a solution, even if it looks like a good idea at first. Having the courage to show us authentically brings back your energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and joy of living.
If you want to challenge yourself to show up more authentically join us this May for our Audacious Leaders Retreat in Transylvania.
If you feel exhausted and need a reset, book your place on the “Return to Self” Wellbeing Retreat in October. If you are not sure which program is best for you, reach out to us for a complimentary consultation.