Pile of handwritten postcards answering the question “What are you hiding?” with a blue card in the center reading “Unhiding is the key to Connection."

You’re Not the Only One Hiding This

Being Seen, Being Vulnerable, Belonging, Community, Hiding / Shame, Human Connection, inclusion, Leadership, Unhidden Leadership, Unhiding, Workplace CultureLeave a comment

Over the past few years, more than 1,100 people in my audiences have answered a question I ask when I speak. Many of those answers look like the postcards you see above. What are you hiding? If something came to mind when you read that question, you’re not alone. When I ask it in a…

STEP 4: SHARE YOUR STORY

Being Seen, Being Vulnerable, Belonging, Community, Hiding / Shame, Human Connection, Leadership, Unhidden Leadership, Unhiding, Workplace CultureLeave a comment

Can I unhide something to you? I remember thinking, That’s what I do for a living. So… yes. They took a breath. My partner is sick. And I haven’t told anyone. Then they said something I’ll never forget. Because you’ve shared parts of your story, it made me look at what’s been holding me back.…

Group photo of people standing together at an NSA-NYC event, smiling toward the camera. Photo credit: John DeMato

STEP 3: BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY

Being Seen, Being Vulnerable, Belonging, Community, Hiding / Shame, Human Connection, Leadership, Unhidden Leadership, Unhiding, Workplace CultureLeave a comment

I thought I invented hiding. I didn’t have language for it. I just had strategies. Tucking part of me away. Blending in. Overcompensating. And I honestly thought I was alone. The only one hiding anything. Then, in a random Walgreens in New York City, I met a woman with the same little hand. We talked…