Three companies collaborated to present a workshop to explore the part that appropriate masking plays in being professional at work, while remaining authentic.
The workshop was designed by Sue Blow (Thought Support) and Ollie Sharp (Brain Ecology) and was hosted by Jude Thorpe (TMM Recruitment). Its aim: to explore the apparent contradiction between behaving authentically and choosing not to share every thought and emotion as it occurs. So, what role does appropriate masking play in being professional at work? And is this part of the ‘more skill’ that Goffee and Jones refer to?
The session concluded the influential Ikigai series of workshops for senior women leaders, which is delivered by Zia Savel in association with TMM Recruitment. This final session built on the themes of Purpose and Authenticity at the heart of Ikigai.
Leaders need to balance authenticity with appropriate reserve when the situation demands.
Attendees played with this concept of balance by making masks to represent the ‘face’ we present to others at work.
The metaphor of the physical mask was key to discussing complex issues such as responding not reacting, professional concealment of inappropriate emotion, and finding the balance between transparency and over-sharing.
The messy business of mask production gave everyone permission to play with some difficult ideas, and the results were both beautiful and insightful.
Wider discussions on the topic took attendees from surgery to theatre, from war to play, from Venetian balls to Covid, encountering themes that were both unexpected and relevant to an important aspect of senior leadership.
Participants are thanked for their humour, enthusiasm, and commitment.