Gary Lineker and ways to ‘do’ Visibility

In this visibility work, a purpose driven work that has spanned the last 12+ years of my life, I watch media storms come and go.

I rarely comment on them unless asked to by the media and even then, I’ve either declined to comment or passed on the opportunity to someone else, who’s more aligned to the topic… that is until today.

Today and everyday, I hear the numerous reasons people choose not to be visible.?

They range from;

? A fear of being judged by others

? Because they’re a private person

? That it feels too exhausting to be on social media 24/7

? That it doesn’t feel safe

? Not looking, or sounding the part

? A feeling of not being ready yet

Imposter syndrome?

? Procrastination to perfectionism

? Needing to be more ‘qualified’

Over the decades, I’ve amassed quite a list

Those up there are just for starters when speaking to individuals, although some of these also crop up when I work with companies and businesses too, but I don’t kiss and tell.

So back to Gary Lineker and what it truly takes to be visible.

Gary Lineker has captured the hearts of the nation in so many ways.

As a professional footballer who also played for England, the man who got us to love crisps even more, (well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it), to the presenter of Match of the Day aka MOTD.

I want to talk today about that last part and why I advocate for choosing to be visible in this way.

• Gary has presented MOTD for 24 years
• Gary has been the face of Walkers Crisps since 1995?
• Gary has travelled extensively during his career?
• Gary has brought up a son who as a child had cancer
• Gary has taken refugees into his home

Since when has speaking up for important topics and disrupting narratives been so dangerous for a persons career?

In my world view, everyday.

Every day I hear of people speaking up and speaking out at work, only to be suspended or threatened with suspension

Every day, people who need a voice are silenced

Every day the wrongdoings of others are covered up and smoke screened by causing a drama over there.

Every day people tell me they want to speak out about a thing but worried about what others would think, or say, or that they’d be judged.

And?

For women, anti racism advocates, the BIOPC communities, LGBTQ+ communities and even more recently Trans gender this judgement not only seems to multiple and carry more personal risk.

Somehow it seems to have become more acceptable to the masses for the media to monitor people, censor people, cancel people and try to silence people.?

At worst in so many cases the media and people within it dramatically inflame a situation.

So when Gary Lineker was told that he was to be suspended due to a breach of BBC guidelines, not only did he stand by what he said, he immediately had a lot of support.?

Then other MOTD supporters stepped in and stood by him too.

I’m sure this this was unexpected from the BBC and welcomed by ministers eager for the distraction.?

When it comes to be visible, being seen and being heard, often times it’s not just about promotion of the self, it’s about:

?? people seeing and understanding your values, so that they know what you stand for and what you don’t. Too many “go beige” to fit in, when they really were born to stand out.

?? It’s sometimes about being a voice for the voiceless, the unheard and the misunderstood. This can also span to products, offerings and services as well as those that can’t speak for themselves?

?? the days of being passionate about doing just one thing have long gone, many people I work with are polymaths who are great at more than just one thing and tired of being told to just stick to one thing.

This matters to me because that’s another way many bright, bold, brilliant professional are silenced AND it’s accepted by society.

Speak up, and speak out because?

Your. Voice. Matters.?

Let’s look at something else Gary Linker has said:

“The refugee thing, I will never be able to comprehend being attacked for wanting to help people who are being bombed, who are risking their lives jumping on dinghies because they’re so desperate.

“How can anyone have a total lack of empathy for people in the most dire circumstances?

Here's my favourite gary Quote

#IStandwithGary #Lineker #MOTD