I recently read a great post by Kayla from Gen Y Girl called How To Be A Likable Leader. In this post she explores the idea that in order to get people interested in what you have to say and to value you as a leader, you must let your walls come down and expose your humanness. Like many, I have the tendency to work hard to portray myself as a put together person all of the time and to hide my flaws and shortcomings.
Reading this article got me to thinking that perhaps this isn’t the best way to go about not only being a leader, but also being a friend, coworker, daughter, etc. If we are obsessed with keeping up an image and not allowing anyone to see our vulnerability, how can we possibly expect anyone to relate to us? Now, I’m not suggesting that we rip the walls down and let everyone into the most intimate parts of our lives, quite the contrary in fact. What I am saying is that accepting our flaws, giving ourselves permission to act silly, and knowing that we don’t have to always be perfect is largely beneficial.
This is easier said than done of course, but starting small is the way to go. Allow people to see that you are not always happy (without being a Debbie Downer), talk about things that scare you, and let others know why you do the things you do. I will be making a conscious effort to do this myself because I rarely expose any of this to anyone.
Recently, my friends have encouraged me to be more expressive with my true thoughts and feelings rather than maintaining constant positivity and happiness. Real life can get messy, and sad, and disappointing. Acknowledging this can be a way to not only validate the struggles we all face, but also allow us to appreciate the good in life even more! Opening up is tough, but putting distance between you and others only makes things harder. I anticipate seeing an improvement in my relationships, leadership, and nearly every facet of my life simply by being more “me.”
Do you let your walls come down? How do you do it? What results have you seen? Any recommendations?
Leave a Reply