Earlier this year, Facebook announced that it had surpassed 1.2 billion worldwide users. Each one of those pages allows a person to essentially be a unique celebrity and promote themselves. In fact, it could almost be considered a quasi iMDB page: pictures, both candid and posed, to show your versatile interests and brag about experiences; links to other past roles; lists of supporting actors in your life; and of course random quotes and trivia. People are very quick to add the perfect selfie or Buzzfeed article that really defines their life at that moment—especially lists about midterms. People are also quick to avoid posting information that could make them feel vulnerable, like occasionally turning on S Club 7 Pandora when you need to just dance around…
But what if Mark Zuckerberg added a section to identify your Bailiwick? Would people be empowered to be truthful or would they say what they thought people wanted to hear? Or maybe they would set their privacy settings to lockdown mode where only they can view it.
Offline, how do we, as leaders, foster an environment where someone feels encouraged and empowered to lower the proverbial privacy settings? Leaders should empower others to be genuine, to embrace their bailiwick and share it with the world. If someone is unsure of their bailiwick, leaders can support others on a reflective journey to discover their interests and passions.
Here’s some advice from my experiences:
1) Take the time to actually get to know someone and listen without judgment. It’s hard to remove our own personal lens at times, but showing genuine interest in listening is exactly what someone might need.
2) Ask open-ended questions about them and don’t interrupt with a personal story.
3) After someone finishes their story, empathize and make connections that will validate the individual’s experiences. If someone shares something rather deep or personal, thank him or her for being vulnerable.
By having an open mind and creating a space where individuals feel comfortable to be their authentic selves, you have an opportunity to empower others to find their niche… which can get a whole lot of likes.
Caroline Green
Graduate Intern/HESA Master’s Student