Skin is the largest organ in the human body – it’s often what people first notice when they see us. And it can be fun to try on different skins… different shades, tones, and textures. This summer, my daughter’s gone through a tanning phase and we recently discovered Kopari Body Glow sunscreen for some fab shimmer. It’s all about skin! But I don’t just mean this stuff on our bodies – more broadly, trying on different skins is about how we project ourselves to the world.
“But I only have one skin”, you say.
Might it feel disingenuous to try on different skins? I mean, if I project myself differently, am I being inauthentic? Am I trying to be someone I’m not? Will others think I’m posing?
I don’t think so, and here’s why. We are complex beings, never static even when consistent. And that’s a good thing! Trying on different skins means we may lean a little more into one aspect of our personality… or bring to surface a different part of who we are. We may find that as we shift the way we project ourselves, we find an even more comfortable version of ourselves.
In fact, trying on different skins enables us to evolve to our best self.
With each job or role, we learn something about ourselves. I remember my early days at P&G, when I was a young graduate with a science degree. I felt compelled to explain or defend every decision because that’s how I excelled in school. Man, how exhausting I must have been! (A belated and heartfelt apology to my Fabric and Haircare co-workers 🫤). As I grew from Assistant Brand Manager to Brand Manager, I learned to let some of that rigor go and to shift the way I presented my ideas.
Later at Apple, we were all in it together. We worked side-by-side, sometimes overnight. The camaraderie was intense and wonderful! But when I started working at IHG, it became clear that I lacked a degree of gravitas for this industry. So, I evolved again. Soon, I shed some of that “in it together” chumminess and began to present myself with more polish. Was I being fake? Definitely not. But was I learning a new way of leading? For sure.
So, how do you get started?
At the start of each new job or role, ask yourself:
- What skin do I want to shed? And what part of how I present myself have I outgrown?
- Who am I when I’m at my best self? What works in service of who I want to be, and how do I retain it?
- Who should I surround myself with? What kind of people bring out the best version of me?
- How should I operate? Which ways of working have helped me be successful? What hasn’t worked as well?
You’ll accelerate your growth and development if you do!
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Image created with Dalle 3