By now you should be used to wearing a mask in public.
Let me reword that. As a leader, you are used to wearing a mask.
You put on a mask to project (a message; a mood) and you put on a mask to hide (information; feelings). You put on a mask to be polite and you put on a mask to be “the strong one.” Your mask is an amplifier or a filter.
Wearing a mask is normal. It’s part of social lubrication. And there’s the catch.
We are often unaware of the mask we wear. Putting on a mask is a subconscious habit. Which means you could be wearing the wrong mask.
So be intentional in selecting the appropriate mask for a given situation. Especially if you are the leader in trying times.
Wearing a mask does not make you less authentic. Wearing the right one intentionally can make you a better leader.
Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.