Who are your models?

The professional world is obsessed with skills, qualifications, and certifications.

But almost no one ever asks you about your models.

I’m not talking about role models. Those are people you look up to because they inspire you.

I’m talking about your models for how to be in the world. These are the people who have gone before you and the people in your inner circle.

Models are the number 1 influence on your life until you reach age 18. And even after entering the workplace, they are hugely influential.

Models can be parents, older siblings, teachers, bosses, mentors, and friends.

And the models in your life have influenced the way you engage with the world.

Because they are in your inner circle, they are, in a sense, your world.

And, they are the ones who reflect back to you who you are.

Complete these two sentence stems for three people in your life:

“I learned that the world is (adjective), because when I (some action you did), (name of model) (how they reacted to you).”

“I learned that I am (adjective) because of how (name of model) responded to me when I asked for what I wanted.

What did you notice from this exercise?

Has the influence of your models on your life and on your self-concept been positive or negative?

The next question to ask yourself is this:

What percentage of how you’re currently showing up in the world is influenced by what was modeled for you?

Take stock — are you living with intention or are you repeating patterns that aren’t serving you?

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels

In leadership, I often see people who have not had managers and bosses who were positive models.

It makes for a lonely road, because leaders who are value-driven and operate out of deeply held convictions are rare.

They are the unconventional leaders who seemingly go against the grain of mainstream because they aren’t just replicating authoritarian models of leadership, but rather they are thoughtful and intentional with how they want to lead.

They know that people are their greatest resource and the only way to lead is through building trust, not generating fear.

They have spikey points of view that distinguishes them from all the others who are too afraid to stand out.

They are used to hearing that their ideas won’t work and have a track record of proving the nay-sayers wrong.

They consistently achieve what others think is impossible.

And they are fueled by a conviction that their contribution to the world matters.

If this is you, or you know someone like this, we should have a conversation.

I help unconventional leaders and thinkers own the very thing that makes them unique so they can do it on purpose.

Love,

Audrey