Do you play small? For me, I know I default to playing small. Assuming I’m not enough, resisting things that make me feel vulnerable, like a podcast. Yes, a podcast.
The more and more you put yourself out there for judgment, the more you come to the table as a brave and courageous leader, the more it’s going to feel like you’re making the habit of being naked in public.
Recently, Michael Dickerson asked me to be a guest on his new podcast, The Spillover Effect, where he’s tackling work-life integration and the concept that how we are in one area of our life spills over into others. Excited and fulfilled at work? Spills over into your personal life. Unhappy and miserable at work? Same.
I accepted from a place of deep discomfort. All of the shame gremlins singing along, “Girl! Who wants to listen to you? Hahahahaha” or “You know how you say dumb things when you are nervous? This will be awesome. You go do it! Hahahahaha.”
This morning he sent the email I’ve dreaded. “Hey, the podcast is up!”
Why exactly did he need to be so EFFICIENT? It’s been a week since our meeting.
I listened to the outtake clip first.
Hmmm, you sound approachable and engaged. THAT can’t be right.
Hmmmm, you sound informed and relevant. Obviously, that’s not right either.
I stopped. I remember the Cave You Fear to Enter exercise from the Dare to Lead™ work, where I discovered that being known, being seen, is a scary place for me. It’s also absolutely the place where I connect with family, friends, clients, strangers. My willingness to be seen, even in discomfort, creates the connection that fuels me on so many levels.
I remembered my own foundation philosophy of: Mindful Adaptation to Challenge and Change.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the conversation with Michael. I hope you shut down that voice that’s nagging you as well and step forward into the adventure that you just might miss.