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Last week\u2019s Thought for the Week, was about \u201cVulnerability is a Powerful Tool\u201d and how showing vulnerability is actually showing strength.<\/p>\n
[You can find previous posts here in my blog].<\/p>\n
Last Thursday, I gave a talk to a group of unemployed people about careers. This was a mixed group and some were interactive and some less so. But they had all come on this course with a common aim \u2013 to try and find a job that would spark an interest for them.<\/p>\n
When we meet someone for the first time, we make up our minds about them within the first 15 seconds, on the basis of their age, gender, accent, hairstyle, clothing etc. Then, having decided who they are, we make up this whole story about who we think they are, and how they will behave.<\/p>\n
So, I asked each individual within this group about their interests and they were surprised because they thought they would just sit there and I\u2019d talk \u201cat\u201d them for an hour or so. Not so, that\u2019s not my style!<\/p>\n
And we had a chat about what kind of things spark their interest.<\/p>\n
Then I told them about my career journey. I told them how I left school at 16, yes I got 7 O\u2019 Levels and I didn\u2019t stay on for A\u2019 Levels, or go on to Uni to get a Masters Degree. I did further professional education later on after I found out where my interests lay.<\/p>\n
They were all surprised and one lady in the group said; \u201dNever judge a book by its cover hey!”<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere are no secrets better kept than the secrets that everybody guesses\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n -George Bernard-Shaw-<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As we humans tend to do, we make assumptions about people when we first meet them, and they did think that I was some kind of \u201cposh bird\u201d that had been to Uni!<\/p>\n And that\u2019s OK! What felt good though was the fact that I really enjoyed our conversation because it was REAL<\/em>.<\/p>\n How often are we able to have real, open conversations with people we don\u2019t know?<\/p>\n I was able to show my vulnerability and be authentic about who I am and they really appreciated it.<\/p>\n So, I hope this ignited a spark in them that it\u2019s OK to be yourself and to be aware of how we judge people and situations without first finding out more.<\/p>\n Showing vulnerability is living life authentically \u2026<\/p>\n What do you hear when I say \u201cLiving an Authentic Life\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n What does that mean to you?<\/p>\n Such as:-<\/p>\n Communication isn’t just affected by identities. It is also affected by difference – for example, by age, ethnicity\/’race’, culture and one of the things which we do all the time is to work from stereotypes or ‘typification’.<\/p>\n So, by being vulnerable and authentic, we immediately build a much clearer story about who we are and build rapport with others so much more easily. And this immediately overcomes so many potential misunderstandings and conflicts.<\/p>\n \u201cMy disorder thrives in isolation \u2013 my recovery grows in authentic communication\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n -Christina Sophia Pearson-<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As always, I will leave that with that thought.<\/p>\n With best wishes for your success!<\/p>\n Korinne<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. I invite you to book a completely complimentary Coaching Session HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n