A word if you don't mind....

So, I have been sitting on this for too long, patiently waiting for the opportunity to address the situation and call BS on entrenched archaic values that continue to perpetuate damaging expectations and narratives of what a 'professional leader’ should walk, talk, say, feel, and behave like.

When you make an impact, when you create something magical, memorable, and deeply valuable - humans want to share the power of how you left them feeling. When this happens, they share those feelings. This happened to me recently following an outstanding event, hundreds of people shared how I made them feel. I had made an impact.

?A picture says a thousand words was the subject line of one stand out email. Embedded was a bright, colourful, and descriptive gif image that summarized perfectly what we created and how it made them feel.

I made the 'radical decision' (that is sarcasm btw) to share this gif with my LinkedIn community. Was it a concern that it had a swear word in it? Not for ONE moment!

I seriously did not even think about it.

The post resonated immediately, within hours hundreds of reactions, it generated comments that matched the feeling expressed in the image.... but then ...of course, someone (then another one) took offense to one-word ???? the entire essence of the post completely lost on 'their irrational, irrelevant, outdated perspective of how a 'leader' should behave.

I deliberately refused to give any commentary on these predictable comments. I watched on with admiration as someone I have massive respect for publicly challenged these people. The more these narrow-minded opinions were challenged, the fiercer (and badly composed) responding messages became, escalating into cheap shots on my character.

By now the post had generated over 19,000 impressions and the positive reactions and comments had almost tripled.

Clearly the response online was not what certain people wanted to see or hear. So, of course an official complaint was made to the board of my organisation. Apparently, the image that I shared was inappropriate, very self-absorbed, and unbecoming of a leader in my position.

With an initial desire from my supportive leadership team to ignore these baseless complaints, predictability the complaints escalated. At this point I was strongly encouraged to delete the post.

This went against everything I stand for, and I only agreed out of respect for my leaders.

Why don't I just let this be forgotten?

Because I refuse to accept that one or two ignorant, outdated people can believe that they were f***ing right!

That is right I said it again but this time not in celebration, but in absolute anger, disbelief, and despair that for every step forward we take as real, genuine, authentic humans, we take five steps back.

A word does not and never will be of detriment to my ability, my skills, my professionalism, my reputation, or resume.

I cannot offend you. I cannot help you. You exemplify everything that is wrong with 'professionalism'. You are making an impact in all the wrong ways. You are not and never will be the future voices that create lasting change and meaningful impact in Aotearoa, NZ and beyond.

I could understand if I used a word that discriminates. But the word in question does not discriminate, it is simply a word. Nothing more.

Sadly, the people that this article is aimed at, will not read, or see this post as naturally I deleted and blocked them.

If you are reading this and feel offended and compelled to reply, do yourself a favour, block me, jog on, and save yourself from highlighting who you really are and what you stand for, because there is no space, room, or appreciation for your thoughts in the community that I want to be part of.

For those that feel suppressed in what you can say or do and how it might impact your professional life - I can only encourage you to stay true to who you are, compromise only to the extent with which you are comfortable.

Real people create real impact, be a real person and together we can and will change the world.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou?