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LeaderChat 2020

Session 5.3: Bozoma Saint John #3

10/9/2020

 

Showcase Your Authentic Self

“If you are authentically and wholly yourself as you enter spaces, you will positively disrupt those spaces,” says Bozoma. She uses the example of DNA to illustrate her point: When one strand of DNA is different from the rest, it changes the matter all together. When leaders show up as their authentic selves, that is positive disruption in and of itself.
  • Describe your thoughts and emotions when she discussed being a black woman on stage presenting a new Apple product where usually it's Steve Jobs or a male C-Level executive.
  • Share a story: In scenarios where you might feel nervous, uncomfortable, or out of place... How does being your authentic self bring positive disruption?
Kyle Evatt
10/12/2020 10:17:18 am

My thoughts when Bozoma spoke about being a black women on stage was how the entire world should allow equal opportunity for all, no matter race, gender or sexual orientation. There is no logical reason to discriminate against someone simply because they are different from you. I hope to see a world someday where people do not focus on the color of your skin, or your gender but are focused on who you are as a person.

My first presentation treatment meeting that I facilitated at my previous employer was a time that I felt nervous and uncomfortable. Leading a process that was new to me and focusing on how those in the meeting would respond to/receive the message of the meeting stuck in the back of my mind. Being my authentic self allowed me to find a source of comfort in that moment and provided me with the confidence to facilitate the meeting effectively.

Being your authentic self allows you to stand up for what you believe in, even when it is not the same as your organization or peers.

Emilee Tucker
10/14/2020 09:40:48 am

As a woman who has worked in the agriculture industry and currently owns her own farm, I deeply identified with her experience as a black woman in a "white male's" world. When I was a field tech for Tyson, I was the first female field tech many of the growers had ever worked with and one of a handful of females that had ever worked in Northwest Arkansas Live Production. I encountered many challenges and definitely felt the pressure to outperform my male peers simply because I was a woman and therefore had more to prove. My husband and I manage our cattle farm together. He manages the crops and I manage the livestock. I have an animal science background and he does not, so I select all of our breeding stock, market our calves, choose calving dates, sale dates, schedule vaccinations, haul cattle to the sale barn myself, doctor cattle myself, etc. As we have navigated various transactions, my husband has had to kindly remind many men that I make the ultimate decisions regarding our livestock and they either need to speak directly with me or wait for him to speak with me concerning purchases or sales because it is still assumed that the man is the only one making those decisions. I hope that we as a culture reach a point where everyone is judged on their merits instead of gender or race at some point, but we are unfortunately not there yet.

When I am uncomfortable or nervous, I tend to become quiet and withdrawn which is definitely NOT my authentic self. If I push myself out of my comfort zone and try to be my authentic, bubbly, outgoing self in all situations, the positive disruption is that I am able to put others at ease and build relationships quickly. But it takes courage to be your authentic self in new situations or around people you don't know.

Joseph Faria
10/15/2020 02:15:35 pm

I found this topic to be most relatable. As a leader, I do my best to show my true self. There are times where other pressures tend to keep me from being my true. I can be very passionate about certain topics (Professional, but passionate.) and certain people take me the wrong way until they really get to know me. Seeing how people were receiving my communication, I had to change my approach and soften the way I communicate. To accomplish this, I had to practice a new facade until it became my new in office persona.


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