When You're Not Like The Others

Hi! My name is Parissa. This is "Modern Badass: A Field Guide", where?Modern Badasses ?can feel seen, understood and valued. And, it's also a place for others to crack the code on the Modern Badasses in their lives (and maybe learn some badassery themselves). Want this in your inbox 2x/month? Hit the “subscribe” button above!

If you grew up watching Sesame Street as I did, you may remember a song called "One Of These Things (Is Not Like The Other)" that accompanied a video of 3 like things and one that didn't belong. It was meant to help children with categorization, classification, etc. Click here to watch one featuring balloons.

These lessons are all well and good when you're a child. But what happens when we take categorization and classification to an extreme at work? What happens when we take categorization and classification to an extreme as a leader?

There's an opportunity cost to homogeneity.

Time and time again, leaders are tempted to sideline those who are "too much" or "too bold" like Modern Badasses because they don't know how to manage them. Or, the leaders believe Badasses might be too difficult for them to manage.

Modern Badasses often feel the opportunity cost for speaking up. When they lean into being that visionary, they can be labeled and maybe even ostracized by some who don't understand them or maybe even fear them. Sometimes, they give up and go silent.

So, we're in a two-sided problem regardless if you lead a Badass or identify as a Badass. I'd joke that leaders are from Mars and Badasses are from Venus but it's a little more serious than that. Regardless of what side of the problem you're on, the net effect is the same: everyone is forced into playing a smaller game.

Here are the risks of playing a smaller game:

? Innovation. Diversity of thought and creativity is where innovation lives. When a Badass is silenced, what really great idea never sees the light of day?

? Impact. What gifts to society do we not benefit from, whether it's science, technology, climate, healthcare, etc., because a great idea never sees the light of day?

No, the solution isn't that Badasses need to be like the others.

I am TIRED of hearing that Badasses need to change, or worse, be “tamed” so that they can fit in. They don’t need to change one iota. They are not broken.

What is available to those who lead Badasses is to create dialogue and alignment on team goals and team values, invite Badasses into the conversation instead of silencing them and being transparent about vulnerabilities (human and skill).

What is available to Badasses is to be better understood by getting clear about what values are most important to them and how those align with team values. Also, Badasses can invite people into their vision and be transparent about their vulnerabilities (human and skill).

There is an opportunity for growth and alignment. It's why I wrote my book "Modern Badass: Tales from the Leadership Front" and why I love advising and coaching Modern Badasses.

Curious to learn where you are on the Modern Badass curve?

Take the?quiz ?and get instant results and insights you can apply immediately. Find out what Modern Badass?traits ?you possess and crack the code to highlight your brilliance!

Also, hit the subscribe button above and:

• Book time ?to speak 1:1 with me.
• Read my book ! It's available on Amazon and?Audible .
• Subscribe to the Sixense Strategy?YouTube Channel ?where I share past sessions of?Badass Bytes , my livestream, and the?LinkedIn Video Series .

Not Fitting In,

Parissa

P.S. I'd love to work with you regardless if you lead a Badass or are a Badass.?Book time ?to talk about any of the following options that may intrigue you.

1. What?Sparks ?You??Let's talk if you're ready to channel your edge and power. but you're unsure as to how to start. Let's have a conversation so that we can identify your blocks and get you back on the badassery road.
2. What's Your?Bold Vision ??I'll design a Sixense Vision a half-day workshop?just for you. We'll talk about your past, and your present to design a strategy to craft your future. It also includes a?Hogan Assessment ?and debrief.
3. Make Your?Next ?Bold Move.?Retain me as your advisor and coach. My Modern Badass clients love working with me 1:1 because I am an objective thinking partner and strategist who champions (and challenges) them as they create their futures. I don't hold anything back and I speak truth to power with power.