Leading Naked

We’ve all been there – Sitting in a meeting where you know the decision makers aren’t listening. The choice was rubber stamped long ago, and leadership is slowly going through the motions and checking boxes as they move toward implementation. The meetings before the meeting took place, negotiations were made, and concessions took place. The current conversation is merely for show. 

The permeation of politics and hidden agendas causes significant concern for authentic leaders. We sit beside colleagues who are wearing masks. They say the right things and act the right way, all while already having made promises to others about how things would turn out. Even in the face of compelling evidence, their steadfast commitment to their view won’t waver. It’s irritating and aggravating. And it happens all the time. 

How would things look different if we called one another out in these moments? What would happen if we shed our masks and led naked?

Often, we see these moments of bias unfolding in real time and fail to act as we second guess whether we have the ability to call out the “elephant in the room.” An argument can be made that we not only have the ability to call this behavior out, we actually have the responsibility to do so. There is no grace in standing idly by and letting moments like this pass only to subsequently call the outcome (and by association, ourselves) a victim of circumstance. 

Takeaway

Are you alert for the masks blocking transparency for your team? Can you call them out? Are you yourself sometimes guilty of wearing a mask in your interactions? Can you take the vulnerable leap to lead naked?   

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