This Halloween isn’t about the masks we wear… it’s about the ones we need to take off!

Every CEO, Founder, and Leader wears a mask, to a certain extent.  The question is how much of the time they wear it and how different it is to what’s underneath!

But by mask, I don’t mean the fake-smile-at-networking-events kind of mask  (although that one’s common too)...

I’m talking about the INVISIBLE one. The one leaders have been wearing for so long, they’ve forgotten who’s actually underneath, what they look like and what they stand for.

You may know the masks I’m talking about:

🖤 The ‘I must act like x,y,z because it’s expected of me’ mask.

🖤 The “I’m fine, just busy” mask.

🖤 The “things will improve .... it’s just a phase” mask.

🖤 The “I’ve got my sh17e together” mask.

They’re all just armour. Worn, a bit battered, but comfortable armour.  Can’t-do-without armour. Armour against vulnerability.... Against judgment... Against fear.

Armour that’s protected you for years, that’s got you to where you are now.  Armour that protects you from the world seeing who you really are.... if you even know who that is anymore.

Studies show that less than 25% of leaders consistently show authenticity in their leadership style 

This means most leaders are still leading from behind their mask, and the problem is:

🎃 It’s exhausting pretending to be someone you’re not.

🎃 You can’t lead authentically from behind armour.

🎃 You can’t fully connect and build trust with people because they will always feel (consciously or unconsciously!) like you’re hiding something.

💀 Don’t get me wrong, with a mask you CAN perform. You can impress. You can get good results....

...BUT they won’t be the best results, because you aren’t performing as your truest authentic self i.e. at your fullest potential. 

There IS more in the tank (YOUR TANK!), if you’re brave enough to take the mask OFF!

How did you get to this?

Somewhere between the 5am starts and the late-night email pings, between “being the rock” for the team and holding it all together at home, you stopped checking in with yourself, questioning:

👉 Who am I (when I’m not leading)?

👉 Where have I got more in the tank?

Most leaders can’t answer, because they’ve become The role. The title. The reputation. The revenue machine......

They’re terrified that if they slow down or drop the ‘I’m always the strong one’ mask, their identity (the one they’ve spent a lifetime building around work) will disappear and they’ll be left with nothing... BUT they’ll be left with nothing anyway.... because if they carry on as they are, they risk destroying their health, relationship(s) and the opportunity to love this life, THAT IS NOTHING!

👀 So ask yourself which risk is biggest for you...

1.      Keeping the mask on, staying safe but limiting your growth .... or

2.      Learning to take the mask off and finally leading at your full potential?

This is why I focus so much on self-awareness and personal identity in my work.

The bravest (and most successful) leaders aren’t the loudest or the ones performing like they ‘should’.  They’re the ones brave enough to take off their mask.  The ones honest enough to look in the mirror and discover who they really are – and utilise it to get results!

And when they do, they find strength, power, clarity and get bigger and better results. Then they perform at their peak and hit a new level of growth  in business AND life!

This is the work I do ... helping CEOs and Leaders take their masks off, so they can become the best version of themselves, from the inside out. Reaching their fullest potential whilst building the business, the culture, and the life that actually adds value to them, not just the mask they built to ‘get through’ .

So here’s my Halloween challenge for you: 👻Before you put on your costume this week ...decide which one you’re going to TAKE OFF.

 Book a call with me if you would like support taking your mask off.

www.strongerinsideandout.co.uk