I am engaged in an inquiry with a bunch of people who want to make a difference in the world about what is our public persona? Or, what became evident today in our conference call, is that we have multiple personae — at home we might be perceived one way, whereas at work we’re another way, and at church or in our social networks we’re seen in yet another way.
I wondered about this several years ago, at which time a very good friend of mine recommended a book called “The 80/20 Individual” by Richard Koch. You can go to the recommendations section of my website, click on this book and order it from Amazon.com.
In that book are a series of questions to ask people whom know you fairly well what they think of you. It’s a great exercise, and enlightening, because what they said quite often did not match up with what I thought they would say. Their responses were typically more flattering than what my little mind says about myself. I am thinking about repeating that exercise, to freshen my view of my public personae. At that time I asked about 25 people, which is a sufficient number of inquiries to get a pretty good sense of how I am viewed.
But the next question of our inquiry this morning on the conference call, which is even bigger, is, “Am I willing to be responsible for that persona?” I am expecting the same pattern this time, albeit the answers may be different — that others see me in a more positive light than I see myself. So the question is, will I step into that generosity others grant me and be for myself who I am for others? Hmmm.
Do it with me! I invite you into this inquiry for yourself. You can share, or not — either way, you will be more of who you are from doing the exercise. I know that from my personal experience.
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