Inside every person you know, there is a person you don't know !!

I have often wondered why is it tough to be authentic and vulnerable and to go deep and know the real person. My 3rd newsletter is based on this theme. It features my reflective thoughts, my key take-aways from Brene Brown's Call to Courage, a Psychological Safety Assessment and ends by dedicating this newsletter to a special person Sharon. If you like the content, please comment, share and subscribe to it !!

My Reflective Thoughts

"This person gets so angry.

Not sure why this person talks so less

This person is so slow at work"

We all carry perceptions & pass judgements about people around us. There is always a reason why the person behaves the way he/she does. Let's stop labeling them...

Inside every person you know, there is a person you don't know.

Break those barriers & try discovering the real person. This requires patience & multiple conversations...

This is very powerful & builds deep connections !

Spotlight of the Week - Call to Courage - Brene Brown

Yesterday I saw Brene Brown's Call to Courage on Netflix. I loved it. You should see it too if you haven't seen it. Here are my top 5 key take-aways

1. Vulnerability is not about winning or losing. Its about courage of showing up when you can't control outcomes. Vulnerability is not sign of weakness. It measures courage
2. We are scared of being vulnerable to let ourselves be seen
3. Vulnerability is the birth of love, belonging & joy. To love is to be vulnerable. Most people are scared to take that risk
4. At Work, vulnerability leads to Trust, Innovation, empathy, inclusivity, equity, problem solving, etc
5. Work seems to be a hard place to be vulnerable. We spend half of our life at work. We need to lean in to tough conversations. We need to excavate the unsaid.

Do you feel safe in your team?

Take this simple Assessment (Taken from book: No Hard Feelings)?

1. If I make a mistake on my team, it is often held against me

Strongly Agree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Strongly Disagree

?2. Members of my team are able to bring up problems & tough issues

Strongly Disagree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Strongly Agree

?3. It is safe to take a risk on this team

Strongly Disagree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Strongly Agree

?4. It is difficult to ask other members of this team for help

Strongly Agree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Strongly Disagree

?5. Working with members of this team, my unique skills & talents are valued & utilized

Strongly Disagree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Strongly Agree

?Please note scales of 1 & 4 are reversed. Please add up scores of 1 to 5.

?Interpreting Your Scores:

Score 0-15 - Your team is psychologically unsafe

Score16 - 30 - Your team has some psychological safety but can increase it.

Score >30 - Your team has a good amount of psychological safety

Since this newsletter is about Safety and Vulnerability, I want to spotlight on Sharon Budhiraja who always makes me feel safe and comfortable. 2 days back, she completed 10 years at Publicis Sapient. She has been a sounding board & a friend to me..Very resilient, helpful, kind & genuine. Heartiest Congratulations Sharon !!