Wearing a mask can be helpful

I'm going to quote Oscar Wilde to you...

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."

I'm a literature buff at heart so I'll take any opportunity to share what's caught my interest.

This quote made me think about honesty. I think it's true we often feel more comfortable with a mask of anonymity. Think about the surveys you get at work - they typically promise it don't they? 

There's an assumption you'll be more honest if you're not going to get in trouble for voicing concerns. That you can't be identified so it can't harm your career prospects. If we don't have to 'own' our feedback, it can make us bolder.

I've seen this idea of wearing a mask in a new product/ concept design process. 

You are first asked to adopt a 'positive' persona. Put on a positive mask. Create ideas from a space of anything is possible. No limitations or problems. Think big and come up with your best ideas.

The next step is to be the 'critic' persona. Put on a different mask and then find all the problems with your list of ideas. Why won't they work? What should be tweaked and improved? Go at the ideas with a sledgehammer and blast them.

The third and final step is to be the realist. This is most akin to the real you persona. The one who is capable ofweighing up pros and cons. You've got out your positive and negative energy, so now should be left with a more stable and rational thought process. Which of the ideas have been adapted and are now workable?

I like this process because it forces us to think differently. If you're usually a glass is half empty person - it forces you to be positive, and vice versa. It allows you to gather more information. And the masks protect you. These aren't YOUR opinions after all - they're your opinion if you're asked to think in a particular way.

Lets apply this to your career.

Put on a 'I believe in myself and any career is possible' mask. Ask that persona what you should do. Listen to it - it will help you be bold. I don't find people need help critiquing their career ideas - that's the easy part (and is quite often the problem!). The much harder part is putting yourself out there, coming up with a new (crazy?) idea and working towards it.

So grab a notebook and get yourself in that bold persona. Write down some bold ideas. What could you do?

I'd love to know what you come up with - hit reply and let me know.

Wishing you all the best

Kat

Kat Hutchings
Career Coach, Kat the Coach Ltd
kat@katthecoach.co.uk 


P.S. Are we connected on LinkedIn (Kat Hutchings) and Instagram (@kat_thecoach)? I post career ideas a few times a week so it would be great to speak to you there too.

P.P.S. Following my share last week that I'm house hunting (stressful) a number of you told me to keep you updated! Our London place is now on the market so it's starting to get serious now...