Why The Way You Show Up Matters and Impacts Your Career

We used to say don’t bring your feelings to work, but what if our feelings and the way we show up and make others feel actually has a big impact on our own success and career trajectory? This week, Tom is joined by Trevor Blondeel, founder of Operations Kickstart. Through his speaking, writing, and coaching, Trevor works with manufacturers to remove roadblocks and connect the top to the shop floor. Tom and Trevor explore why the way that you show up matters, how to even gauge the way you are showing up and impacting others, and what to do when you get some honest feedback you weren’t expecting. Trevor shows some real-world and practical examples of what it looks like when you show up better for your team.    On today’s podcast, you will learn:   What does it really mean to show up better for your team?  How people feel and how we make people feel determines the extent to which they are going to engage with us.  Communication is important, and especially for engineers and manufacturers, we can remove roadblocks when we are able to communicate to others in a clear and friendly manner.  Times have changed in the workplace and we are now recognizing that people aren’t one-dimensional robots that lose their personality once they come to work.  The more people feel connected at work, the more engaged they will be.  We want to aim for a long-term connection with our team.    Why does your social network matter?  You are heavily influenced by the 5 people closest to you.  Our social business network is the creation of long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between two or more people. Everyone involved in those relationships finds more success than they would without them.  One of the ways that humans build relationships is through community and collaboration.  In order to get that feeling of community and to have collaboration, you have to be a whole person and can’t live in a silo.  When we show up in a way that makes others around us feel seen and connected, their brains and broadening and building.    Why do people have trouble showing up and what can they do about it?  First, it starts with knowing how you are showing up and impacting the group.  Emotional intelligence is a skill, and we can all learn it.  It’s humbling to hear the truth and to get feedback. This is not for the weak, but for the brave and vulnerable!  Sometimes, people think compliments from others mean they are doing a great job and there’s nothing to change or improve upon.    How Can You Ask For Feedback, And What To Do Once You’ve Gotten It?  Brace yourself because you may not know how you have been showing up.  Find a trusted friend or acquaintance who will shoot it to you straight. Ask them how you show up and how they think it makes others feel. Listen to their observations with an open mind.  It is important to say “thank you” and step away to process after getting feedback rather than getting defensive. Absorb the feedback and start to see how you can begin to make little changes in the way you show up and affect others.    Final thoughts on the conversation:  The way we show up matters, not only for our career but for helping others to grow and be their best.  Be vulnerable. Be brave. Ask for feedback and be open to hearing what others have to say.  Find the right people. You are the sum of the five people you are most around, so pick good ones.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series   Operation Kickstart