Have you ever felt you couldn’t be your true self at work?
I would be shocked if you said, “No, it never happened to me.”
You probably have a story about a time when you had to hold your tongue, or put your head down and listen, as management spoke over you to enforce a standard of behaviour so that you would fit in and not disrupt company culture.
Having to conform to a pre-defined culture is an experience that many LGBTQ+ individuals encounter from the moment they become aware of their identity or differences.
But this is not to imply that LGBTQ+ people are the only ones who feel like they can’t be their true selves in the workplace.
Company culture can cultivate development, acceptance, and innovation.
Company culture can also stifle creativity and individual expression, losing out on unique, often unheard ideas so that management and leadership won’t feel uncomfortable.
I invite you to consider that leadership is not a label exclusive to those to whom you report.
And let’s hope your manager is not considered your “superior” — an inequitable, and inhumane term.
So, what does it mean to you to have the courage to disrupt?
Queer leadership demands courage to challenge the norm — to stand on the margins and disrupt the fog that hinders progress — even if it means risking offence for the sake of progressive, and evolutionary change.
We can advocate for acceptance, understanding, and progress by leading from our unique selves.
LGBTQ+ individuals have been “forced” into making the personal political — constantly working to elevate consciousness and challenge norms.
Regardless of how you identify, we all share responsibility for fostering an inclusive workplace. We can all contribute to this progressive change by seeking first to understand, instead of dictating demands. What does leadership mean to you
Darren Stehle | Coach & Writer
@DarrenStehle
Coaching change-makers in critical thinking to align with your values & truth, develop confidence & self-mastery, and contribute to an equitable & just society.
