Why it's important to own who you are.
Yep. I'm a freak. And I own it.
If we were all weird, how would we bring different perspectives and showcase the value we bring to the table?
When working with others, we must be mindful of those around us. We are all different in how we understand things and communicate. It's why we must be open and adaptable to those around us. However, leading from the middle is a delicate balance because we also want to maintain the value we bring to the table.
Early in my career, I had a situation that made me reflect on such a situation. In what I would describe as the only useful PDR I have ever had, someone provided feedback stating, "Gill is great once you get to know her."
I was surprised that this was people's perception of me, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how to address this. But I was struggling to find a way to adapt to others and stay true to myself.
People sometimes say that I can be rude, blunt, and occasionally challenging. But I know that, at my core, what drives me is my desire to help people.
In short, my honesty about the situation and my desire to help them solve it comes across to people as an attack on them.
But how do I explain to those I interact with that I care and adapt to them while also not losing the value I bring?
It was around this time that I heard a manager describe me to a team that I was about to help. They said, "If you need help, Gill will move mountains for you. But if you do something wrong, you will know about it".
I didn't realise it then, but what this person said to this team was the answer.
This manager was basically being upfront and honest about how I work. I am here to help, but if there are issues, I will address them head-on so we can move forward.
Over the years, I started to own how I worked more. When I meet people, I am upfront about being honest, challenging, and pushing to drive change. But I make it clear that I say it all with love. I want to help them and make things better.
I make the value I will bring to the table clear.
Like me, you will not be everyone's cup of tea. That is ok. It would be weird if we were all the same. That is why we are freaks. We all bring a unique perspective, which makes the things we achieve together even more significant.
And if you find that maybe you aren’t the right fit, that’s even better because you have identified with them who would be the best person to help them.
If you own up to what you will bring to the table from the start, the delicate balance you are trying to manage will be easier to manage.
You might even be surprised at how disarming you make things by being honest.
Embrace your freak!
