How well do you know your co-workers?

How well do you know your co-workers? Really know them. Do you know their highest aspirations? Chances are we keep even our personal conversations at work at a surface level. But what could we be gaining by taking that leap of faith and bringing our whole selves to work?

Most of us have a work persona. There are parts of ourselves we feel uncomfortable revealing to others at work. Many of us hold back a big part of what makes us human and vulnerable to be professional, competent, and successful.

But what if we decided to reveal more of who we are at work? What would be possible? How would our workplaces be different? What would be the impact on the people we work with and lead?

Bringing our whole selves to work means showing up authentically, leading with humility, and remembering that we are all vulnerable, imperfect human beings doing the best we can.

It is also about having the courage to take risks and the courage to fail publicly, speak up, ask for help, connect with others in a genuine way, and allow us to be truly seen.

It is not always easy for us to show up this way, especially at work. And it takes commitment, intention, and courage for leaders and organizations to create environments that are conducive to this type of authenticity and humanity.

This psychological safety is something that we hold dear at Douglas Scott. In the workplace, psychological safety is the shared belief that it is safe to take interpersonal risks. These risks include speaking up when there is a problem with the team dynamics and sharing creative ideas, among others.

I have missed many things about work during COVID and the supportive team engagement is something I have missed greatly. We run BAU times a quarterly session with a leading psychologist who encourages us to explore these concepts and creates a space for us to be vulnerable.

These are the things we can sometimes take for granted in the workplace but is something that I am really looking forward to being of part of post lock down.

Oh and of course the obligatory post session socials.