Secrets of the 80 Masks: A Journey to Authentic Leadership.

By Percy Fick , Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Evolve Consulting Services .

Have you ever felt that you are not living a fulfilling life in the sense of walking in authenticity? Are you struggling to understand individual and team behaviour and often find it stressful to cope with the ongoing pursuit of leading people effectively? If so, you're not alone. This is why I am launching the series "Secrets of the 80 Masks."

During my 28 years of exposure to leadership, I have seen many successful leaders and many who just cannot come to grips with who they are. There is a courageous struggle between ambition, success, and acceptance. I am a perfect example of that. From a young age, I knew I was born to lead and make a difference in the world. Innocence in a non-corrupted mind is fed by societal pressure and the demands of this world. This innocence was born as a humanitarian value that defined my life.

I remember sitting as a 6-year-old in church, hearing sermons that formed a spiritual view that shaped me forever. Little did I know that life would force me to adapt and apply facades shaped by a dysfunctional childhood. Dr. Anthony Van Tonder calls this the "Crucible Experience," a purification process that requires much work and self-reflection. As a young boy, I was shaped by various experiences, from an abusive father and a broken home to rejection from many people. These childhood experiences profoundly impacted how I viewed the world and how I eventually developed into adulthood.

Despite these experiences, they defined a heart that never wanted anyone else to experience the same pain, and I vowed to make a difference in this world. The side effect of my childhood experience is that we adapt, often taking shortcuts and applying coping mechanisms to deal with insecurity, fear of rejection, and loss. One childhood experience, in particular, shaped my life forever, and to this day, I have to work and reflect on this "Thorn in my Flesh." Here is my story of applying my first mask, the Mask of Significance.

I remember my first day of school and being allocated to a class. I couldn't read before school or even distinguish various colours. The early diagnosis was dyslexia, but this couldn't be further from the truth. So, I started off in a special needs class, which made me feel inferior and damaged my self-esteem and confidence. After a few weeks, my teacher realised I had a knack for math. Within a month, I progressed to a higher class, a change that would define my grit.

As I went through primary school, I became the top student. In my final year, I was invited to receive an award. Now, here it comes... My dad was an alcoholic, and my fear was that he would arrive drunk at the prize-giving. As life threw a curveball, my dad arrived drunk and sat right in the front row next to the School Principal. In a moment, I felt my world fall apart. To top it all, my dad started shouting at the top of his voice. He must have been proud, but it was mortifying.

This was when the mask of significance was born. I vowed never to be like my dad. I lived with the notion that I always had to put myself at the forefront to cope with the embarrassing moment I experienced. The combination of my values, behaviour, and talents set me up for 40 years of the magnetism and allure of applying this facade. Until I was made redundant from a role of 13 years of loyalty. Imagine this momentarily: the mask of significance, losing my job! I felt my world fall apart again, back to the crucible experience. The need to feel impactful was ripped from underneath my feet.

This is how the notion of "Secrets of the 80 Masks" was born. I realised that my need for acceptance stemmed from that moment at the prize-giving, the fear of losing control of my greatest asset. I had to reflect: my dad had his own masks that most probably drove him to alcoholism. I started reflecting and researching the topic of facades and was astounded when I realised how many people are shaped by society and forced to apply masks. One thing all leaders had in common, based on my research, was fear and rejection, formed by past experiences.

I am not here to tell you whether masks are wrong or right, but I know one thing: continuous mask use can prevent authentic walking. If you allow it, the mask's grip can become permanent. This series aims to help individuals and leaders learn the power of masks, their blind spots, and when to apply and remove them.

I want to engage with you all on this topic and help each person lose the grip of each mask. 80 masks and 80 moments of change. Stay tuned as we explore the secrets of the 80 masks.

Stay authentic,

Percy Fick

Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Evolve