Undiluted - showing up fully for leadership, life and people

Looking back, it's been 19 years of corporate and 4 years of entrepreneurship mixed in. The one thread that led through the entire piece was that in that journey where you are asked to evolve and growth, time and time again, is the humanity in connections. Yet, we're also conditioned in the professional environment to keep an "image", the Asian context as kids "to be seen and not heard, let the elders speak" and even more so as a woman "know your space". So "Undiluted" is really a callout to those who are realising that their own expression is important, and that the human conversations are important and often, the only crucial reason why your teams and relationships thrive or languish.

We are in a situation - an age of immense technology, social outreach, networks - yet communities continue to be segregated, businesses spend way to effort defending a status quo then paying attention to the one thing that will drive them to success - their people. When someone expresses themselves in their full potential, or even just being wholehearted in their efforts on a particular project or scope, imagine the opportunities. This isn't just work or life. It's both because how we are at work affects how we feel and how we show up at home, how we are supported by our relationships affects how far we want to explore in our professional lives.

I checked the definition of "undiluted" across a few dictionaries - it also meant "unrestrained, not weakened in any way, not diminished, pure". And that struck a chord, through all the leadership journeys, change management and strategy work, taking products from scratch, taking corporate businesses to new segments, starting my own business alongside and making so many mistakes (can I get a *high five* from fellow entrepreneurs who get this), the undiluted life was the key thread for me. It could mean one or most of these:

• Allowing teams and the people in them to flourish at their potential. If you are a team / business leader or changemaker, you have no idea the extent of the potential of your team. I say that with all humility. No matter how long you are in the business, you do not know how far another person can grow and the depths of where they will flourish. By creating the environment and structure where people do not need to constantly trim themselves excessively, their energy is then channeled to creativity, motivation and effort.

Yet in our bid to enact control and predictability in our lives, we stay within our comfort zones and avoid the tough conversations with ourselves and with others.

• A more embracing mindset around change - that change does not always have to be a struggle. Let's face it, your life or business is not stagnant. Trends change, people move and your customers' behaviours and lifestyles evolve. Life happens - divorce, new marriages, children, family, health, new hobbies, friendships. Yet in our bid to enact control and predictability in our lives, we stay within our comfort zones and avoid the tough conversations with ourselves and with others.
• Conventional and unconventional paths can co-exist. I question the word "normal" or "conventional" a lot: Is it really true? What does 'status quo' actually look like who and determines it? I've made many decisions along my career and choice of business that some may call unconventional, even how I handled my divorce (or the fact that I'm unapologetic that I am a single mom co-parenting and the challenges that come with it) feels unconventional to some. "Undiluted" wants to keep asking those questions and allow the permission for untrodden paths, or trying previous solutions even though it has failed (more on this later), that we don't have to trim away parts that don't fit into a normal structure (who's structure? I would ask). That it isn't one or the other.

So "Undiluted" is really a callout to those who are realising that their own expression is important, and that the human conversations are important and often, the only crucial reason why your teams and relationships thrive or languish.

Welcome to my journey and the stories I have lined up for you. And if that transforms your office, the people, your business just a little bit, I am grateful. Welcome to Undiluted.

#toughconversations #changemanagement #strategyexecution #leadership

(Next article: Undiluted is not unfiltered - what keeping it real really means)

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