Through Mallory’s eyes.
We have to be courageous and wholehearted, and we have to raise a new generation of leaders who are doing the same.
Watching the world through a baby’s eyes gives a whole new meaning to authenticity. I never knew corn could be so exciting, never considered that feeling different textures on feet could make someone giggle so joyously until I spent time with Mallory, my 8-month-old niece. Everything Mallory does is authentic because she hasn’t learned to build up walls and defenses around herself yet. As much as it is pure to watch her, it also makes me sad for the first time someone will tell her she’s ‘too much.’ How will she respond? Will she shrink into herself and be fearful of expressing her full person? Will she start apologizing for the space she occupies? Very few options are good options in this situation because all of them contribute to Mallory being less… Mallory. I love her fully, with her entire personality in hand. But I know, from experience, that the masses will likely not accept that.
This is where we must learn to temper ourselves for social order and norms without sacrificing who we are as people. I have learned to speak more quietly, interrupt less often, and not tell every joke that floats through my head. This doesn’t mean I’m not being myself- it just means I’m being the self I need to be in that situation to fit in.
Another thing Mallory will have to learn is the balance of personal thought and expression and doing what you’re told. Every good workplace entertains dissent, but at the end of the day, there is a boss- and your job is to listen to their directives. There is a certain discernment that grows with each year in the workforce, and I have found that this applies to me as well. I know far more often now what to press with my boss and what to let go.
All of this has still resulted in a resume headline that reads, “doing things right the first time, seeking to improve processes through innovation, and infusing my personal brand of passion, compassion, and boldness into everything I do.” There’s no one statement that describes me more to a T, and I’m proud to say I express it with my whole self every day, in every space. That’s authenticity. I often think back to what Brene Brown (Brown, 2018) wrote on wholeheartedness when I consider my personal statement. She said, “We desperately need more leaders who are committed to courageous, wholehearted leadership and who are self-aware enough to lead from their hearts, rather than unevolved leaders who lead from hurt and fear” (p. 72).
Even though I’ve been told I’m too much more times than I can count, and even though my gut reaction is to apologize for the space I’m physically occupying, I hold tight to Brown’s words. We have to be courageous and wholehearted, and we have to raise a new generation of leaders who are doing the same.
Readers will understand who I am throughout my portfolio elements because this statement rings true in all of them. Demonstrations of leadership in volunteerism, in my workplace, in my friendships, and in my place of worship all highlight the same person. This will also help build trust with readers.
References:
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts. Random House.