“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
Brene Brown - Daring Greatly
Since Brene Brown gave her TED Talk “The Power of Vulnerability” almost a decade ago, her popularity raised as one of the most sincere voices about leadership, authenticity, and vulnerability. Defined as one of the top gurus for the emotions that nobody wants to talk about, Brown established the connection between how authenticity can affect your relationships with others.
For her, authenticity is a daily practice and it's about the choice to show up and be real. In other words, it is about working on your daily personal brand that can allow you to beat the shame and the consequent disconnection with the people that is surrounding you: employees, managers or your colleagues.
Our desire for connection is so strong that we are often afraid to reveal who we are really are. But the only way to combat shame and disconnection is taking the decision and having the courage to show ourselves. It is not something that you do once, it is something that should be a daily life decision.
2. SHOW EMPATHY & BE COMPASSIONATE
Perspective and our inability to grasp it will always be a weakness in humans I believe. Though, taking on that perspective and offering a genuine desire to help while expecting nothing in return, is so powerful. More importantly, there is so much here that will improve your personal branding in perpetuity, I'm staggered more people don't make this a core focus. As Gary Vee says, the ROI on kindness is unparalleled.
Everything starts from knowing that we are made of both strength and struggle. This simple premise can change the way of how we understand the decisions of others, we should be compassionate in understanding that each person has their own struggles.
3. BE PASSIONATE
Tasteful vulnerability is the foundation of authenticity. Consistently oversharing for example on social or in any form really, can actually make you seem fake or not trustworthy. By sharing with others through your passions though, you're likely to increase your credibility and allow you to build better relationships.
4. LIVE YOUR LIFE
Often we get caught buy stuff, getting a job or living life to impress people we care little about. Worse yet, we live a life aligned to the expectations and opinions of our bestie, our brother our mum, which limits our minds and our potential. This lesson may sound obvious or even stupid, but I've heard it all too many time. A teenager choosing an engineering degree when really all they wanted to do was be a florist, a mechanic who wanted to be a photographer, a man who moves states or even countries to avoid having to "come out" to his parents. You know the people I'm talking about, or maybe you are the people I'm talking about? Your life is there and it is your decision to take it on and embrace it. The sooner you do the more likely you'll be happy.
Ensuring that we are living an authentic life means that we need to shift the mindset of vulnerability from a weakness to a strength. Your personal brand is about showing who you are without the fear of shame. Living with authenticity will allow you to connect better with everyone that surrounds you, from your house to your workplace.
Comments
Post a Comment