How about personal currency?

Feb 28, 2024

“Communication is the mortar that holds humanity together; it’s the very currency of our society.”

― Laurie Buchanan, PhD

Context:

I was listening to a few podcasts this week, one where a professional motivator guest referred to her currency as energy. She cultivates and protects her energy to bring herself to her work and knows that’s what people have come to expect from her.

The second was a ‘Dare to Lead’ podcast with Brené Brown, Adam Grant, and Simon Sinek in which they were rethinking what employee engagement can look like. Basically, wrestling with the new work reality of remote and hybrid employees.

It struck me that each of us bring our own personal currency to our work life, be that energy, skills, wisdom, experience, etc. But a leader has a stage to both showcase and recognize that currency in a unique way.

For leaders, currency can often come across as charisma or confidence. They get to lead with their strengths while employees are often searching for the best way to fit in and contribute.

So how does this apply to a business context?

In this new transition to remote and hybrid work it can be harder than ever to know and show your currency when you’re no longer interacting within in-person group settings.

While workers used to be judged by office face time, new metrics need to be applied to new work styles. Some people are able to accomplish their work in more condensed schedules. Others find themselves missing collaboration and interactions that motivated them to deliver on their projects and deadlines.

Regardless of the approach, we’re in a place where we need to re-imagine what contributions and commitment look like. And leaders need to be open to this new landscape if they want teams of high performers to accomplish company goals.

Prophetic & Insightful Teachers:

Whether we like it or not, the ‘individual identity’ movement is here to stay. People are rethinking the way they work and what work actually means, in the life they want to create. They are taking greater ownership of their time in ways that must be factored into a holistic approach to hiring and retention. Understanding what collaboration and time management may look like in the future are key.

As author Amy Blankson says, “In the information economy, collaboration is the ultimate currency.”
And writer Topsy Gift notes, “Greatness can only be procured with the currency of time and discipline.”

The Invisible Obvious:

I guess what I’m trying to say here is we need to be more aware of the power of personal currency as leaders. Employees engage with leaders and make a judgement call. Either consciously or unconsciously, they sense a leader’s authenticity and connection to their own currency or “super-powers.” And they wonder if we see them, they’re unique background, and what they have to contribute.

Can we pause for a moment?

We need to think about how to engage with people in a more nuanced way. The old model of ‘getting to know people’s personalities and work styles by osmosis at the office’ has changed.

Our awareness of our own unique abilities and those of the people we lead and work with is more important than ever in our increasingly remote/digital world. Let’s not underestimate the anxiety around how AI will change white collar jobs and the workplace. We all bring things to the table, but the table itself is changing.

We can keep pretending not to notice this new dynamic in action…

Or, we can begin to see personal currency and the value others bring through greater awareness, personal integration and accountability.

Invisible Obvious