WEBVTT - Normalize imperfection

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is to normalize imperfection. We've had fuller windows

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<v Speaker 1>into each other's lives in recent months, with video calls

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<v Speaker 1>showing us each other's homes and families. We see more

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<v Speaker 1>of who people are as people. And while some of

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<v Speaker 1>this is less carefully crafted than we might like, that's

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<v Speaker 1>actually okay. There are some real benefits to seeing that

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<v Speaker 1>not everything is perfect, nor does it need to be.

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<v Speaker 1>I've discussed in the past that your zoom square is

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<v Speaker 1>your personal brand. You want to put some thought into

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<v Speaker 1>creating a backdrop that fits the image you want to convey,

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<v Speaker 1>but that image does not need to be one of perfection.

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<v Speaker 1>In fact, it may be better if you allow for

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<v Speaker 1>some imperfection. There are many ways that we feel distant

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<v Speaker 1>from each other right now, but there's also a closeness

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<v Speaker 1>that comes from seeing our colleagues and friends as full people.

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<v Speaker 1>We don't just see people polished for in the office work.

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<v Speaker 1>We see them in less guarded moments. Maybe you're pulled

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<v Speaker 1>together CEOs Toddler walks in and announces that she has

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<v Speaker 1>to go potty. Your boss is surrounded by a seemingly

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<v Speaker 1>random spread of papers, and you are pretty sure that

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<v Speaker 1>you saw that same empty cereal bowl on your last

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<v Speaker 1>video call. Your client, who dots every eye and crosses

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<v Speaker 1>every t is still figuring out video conference technology and

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<v Speaker 1>routinely shares the wrong screen or hangs up unintentionally. We

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<v Speaker 1>are all imperfect, and while we knew that on some

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<v Speaker 1>level before, we see it more now. It's awkward sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>but also humanizing. So today's tip is to acknowledge to

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<v Speaker 1>that imperfection and normalize it, because this actually has some

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<v Speaker 1>productivity benefits. No one can do everything. When senior staff

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<v Speaker 1>and respected coworkers normalize imperfection about things that don't matter,

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<v Speaker 1>it shows others what prioritizing looks like in real life.

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<v Speaker 1>This can happen by acknowledging a messy workspace on a

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<v Speaker 1>video call, or by drawing a diagram on the whiteboard

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<v Speaker 1>during a meeting that's helpful for illustrating the point but

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<v Speaker 1>won't win art awards. When less experienced staff see that

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<v Speaker 1>they're more experienced colleagues don't have impeccable skills in all

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<v Speaker 1>aspects of their lives, it helps them feel less self

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<v Speaker 1>conscious and more confident. In addition, by narrating what you're

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<v Speaker 1>focusing on communicating your idea and what you're not focusing

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<v Speaker 1>on the esthetics of the diagram you drew, you're modeling

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<v Speaker 1>for your colleagues that they too, should focus on the

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<v Speaker 1>areas that add value. There is no point in being

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<v Speaker 1>distracted by seeking perfection in areas that don't matter. Of course,

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<v Speaker 1>there are also imperfections in areas of our lives that

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<v Speaker 1>do matter, like our families and relationships. But even here,

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<v Speaker 1>since perfection is impossible, we want to model what is

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<v Speaker 1>human and humane. It's natural that your kids will wander

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<v Speaker 1>into your workspace occasionally, sometimes at inopportune moments. Greet them lovingly,

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<v Speaker 1>and then do what you need to to get back

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<v Speaker 1>to work. Showing how you deal with the unexpected will

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<v Speaker 1>cause your team to have more respect for you. They

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<v Speaker 1>will also feel more confident in doing the best work

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<v Speaker 1>they can under the circumstances, even when their lives aren't

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<v Speaker 1>perfect either. So today, do what you can to normalize imperfection.

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<v Speaker 1>That doesn't mean having low standards or giving up. It

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<v Speaker 1>means acknowledging that flawed human beings can still do great work.

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<v Speaker 1>Normalizing your own imperfections will give other people courage too

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<v Speaker 1>that they can do great things. And there's a lot

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<v Speaker 1>that imperfect people can accomplish together. In the meantime, this

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<v Speaker 1>is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making the

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<v Speaker 1>most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear

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<v Speaker 1>from you. You can send me your tips, your questions,

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<v Speaker 1>or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook

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<v Speaker 1>and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod that's B the number four,

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<v Speaker 1>then Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me

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<v Speaker 1>an email at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media

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<v Speaker 1>dot com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all

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<v Speaker 1>the letters. Thanks so much, I look forward to staying

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<v Speaker 1>in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio.

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