They hired you, so be you
There's a lot of people in corporate, behaving like corporate professionals.
I'm all for professional standards - but lets not be muted versions of ourselves. When I speak with clients 1-1, one of the most common reasons they're feeling unfulfilled or resentful about their work, is because they're not being themselves.
They're doing what's expected, getting the right results and then turning up again the next day to rinse and repeat. Good, but not a mind-blowingly exciting, living on fire, reach for the sky kind-of state.
This 'stale' feeling is one you can quite quickly get rid of. And I don't mean cover it up by taking superficial actions like venting to mentors and friends. I mean action you can take to change your mindset.
The short answer is: be more unapologetically you.
They got a glimpse of who you are when they hired you - through interviews, conversations or maybe a longer term relationship. So they already know. You don't need to keep 'you' a secret. In fact they may have hired you specifically because they got a sense of who you are and liked it.
So when you're in your day to day series of meetings, actions and conversations, be more yourself.
What do I mean by that?
If you're contemplative - tell people you need a moment to think
If you feel like you need to lighten the mood in a meeting, do it. Crack the joke that went through your head. If you need it, others probably do too
If you're having a tough week, say it out loud. Give people the opportunity to help you with a specific piece of work or to take you for a coffee
Tell people what you're great at - then they know who to come to when they need help with that thing and you'll be lit up because you're being useful
When you disagree, tactfully say so e.g. 'I have a different perspective'
If you have a crazy idea, share it.
Whatever it is that you bring to the party, stop saying it in your head and say it out loud. Being honest, reacting to what's in front of you and quietening your inner voice (should I really say that, what if people disagree etc etc) will help you feel more connected to what you're doing.
Being yourself creates a sense of freedom. Focussing on your natural strengths creates a feeling of fulfilment. And using what you're great at to support others creates a sense of social purpose.
This = happier at work.
I'd love to hear how you're being more unapologectically you this week.
