Stop mistaking "new" for "not you"

"It feels like I'm faking it," said my client when they were practicing staying calm when their coworkers were being... less than helpful.

Another client said the same thing when practicing speaking up earlier in meetings instead of waiting to be invited to talk.

I told them both: "You're not faking it. You're using a new muscle, and it feels awkward at first."

Sometimes you DO fake your calmness when you're fuming on the inside. Sometimes you DO fake confidence when your voice feels shaky. But there's a part of you that IS being calm, IS being confident in that moment. The more you water that part, the more it grows.

It's not inauthentic just because it feels uncomfortable or new. It's not "not you." It's just a part of you that hasn't gotten much airtime before.

The discomfort isn't necessarily proof you're being fake. It could be proof that you're growing.

Speaking of outside of your comfort zone - I have been experimenting with video content. You can see a video on this topic below and check out my LinkedIn for more. I'd love to hear what you think!

Leadership Tools & Inspiration

• It is end-of-year offsite season! These are my go-to most impactful questions for your team offsite.

• Hot tip for Hard Conversations

• For greater leadership inspiration, the Marcus Aurelius episode of Philozophize this (thank you to my client who recommended it!)

Stay tuned for more updates, learnings, and leadership resources.