PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

The wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers might not be too relevant in everyday conversation, but they did say a few things that still hold water today. Among their commonly used maxims was a phrase that still resonates with many of us: “Know thyself.” It’s a simple phrase, but one that’s loaded with meaning. How well does the average person really know themselves? And how often do we sit down to intentionally become acquainted with our inner monologues (that voice that runs through our heads)? Or think about our behaviors or tendencies? Or reflect on how we might have handled a past incident better? If you’re like most people I know, you rarely carve out time for this kind of thinking. We’re all so busy with our day-to-day responsibilities, we tend to skip over personal development work. And that’s a shame because research shows, “the habit of reflection can separate extraordinary professionals from mediocre ones.” There are many ways to develop a “habit of reflection.” You could choose to journal, take a science-based assessment test, talk to a counselor, read books on the topic (such as Insight by Tasha Eurich or Speak by Tunde Oyeneyin), or just carve out a few minutes of your day to think deeply. Not only can learning about yourself increase your confidence, self-awareness, and authenticity, it can also be a powerful tool for building bridges between yourself and others. Here are six reasons why:

Last week, we discussed actions that may look like allyship on the surface, but are more performative than substantive. Your marginalized employees deserve more than a performance—more than empty promises and surface-level actions. To help make a more inclusive and equitable workplace, it is crucial for leaders to turn their promises of support into action. Here are a few key steps to get started…

Far too often, portions of the workforce are left behind. These underrepresented individuals must carve their own paths, be their own advocates, and go out of their way to build their skillsets and prove they are promotion-worthy. In the meantime, others reap the benefits of receiving personal guidance from mentors, sponsors, or leaders who care about their career futures. It’s hard to overstate the importance of personal guidance in shaping an individual’s career. Those with mentors are promoted five times more often than those without. And, given that over two-thirds of Black professionals and 63 percent of women have no access to career mentors, that means these underrepresented groups are often not landing promotions (this has nothing to do with skill and everything to do with opportunity!). What can you, as a leader, do about it?

It’s human nature to seek comfort. Our brains have evolved to create strong bonds within our social group and to seek out similar individuals. This desire to stay within our comfort zone is stronger than ever during the holidays – a time when we’re surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones. But while the holidays are a great time to relax and recharge, they’re also a perfect opportunity to step outside your bubble and mingle with people who you might not encounter on a daily basis. Why choose to expand your horizons and meet new people? Having one-on-one interactions with a variety of people is one of the best ways to combat deeply held biases (whether conscious or unconscious). When you’re exposed to people of different genders, races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, etc., you begin to realize that the world is a lot more complex (and interesting!) than you may have thought. You will also chip away at the unconscious biases you may hold. Here are five tips to help you step outside your comfort zone and meet new people during the holiday season: