Dear leader: What I didn’t say when you interviewed me

Dear Leader,

I’m your employee.

I wanted to have a chat.

Just a little moment to share with you some of my thoughts.

When I got this position, I was nervous, and I fear that you have no idea who I am.

I want you to know me.

I want you to want to know me.

I wanted this job badly.

When I interviewed, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even assume how you saw me that day.

I wanted to tell you how hard that I would work for you and how meticulous I am at details.

I wanted to tell you that I love connecting with people and that strangers just don’t exist in my world.

I wanted to tell you that I would be loyal and that you could trust me to do what is asked of me and more than likely more.

I wanted to say all of that, but I was nervous, so I did a lot of nodding and smiling.

But that is not who I am.

I am personable.

I am funny.

Sometimes intentional and sometimes unintentional.

I’ve been known to trip on invisible things on the carpet.

I am empathetic and I want to know people well enough that they trust to share with me.

I care about my work and the finished project.

I care about my coworkers, and I want to know them too.

I want you to see that.

I want you to cheer with me when things go well, and I want you to ask me what is wrong if I don’t seem like myself.

If I give you something that you don’t understand the concept of, I want you to give me the opportunity to tell you what my vision was.

If you are upset with me, I want you to give me the opportunity to share my intentions.

I want you to see that I am a valuable person at the table and empower me to reach bigger and better creative heights.

I want you to challenge me in a way that motivates me to go for it.

You see, what I didn’t tell you in my interview is that I need to connect with you too.

I need you to see me and I need to see you.

Then and only then does loyalty begin to cultivate and I promise you my work will show that time and time again.

Tell me about what makes you happy.

Tell me how you started your career and please tell me the mistakes that you have grown and learned from.

Tell me something funny that happened along the way.

I want to know you, leader.

I want to see who you are so that I can grow here, safely.

I want to know who you are.

Human to human.

Will you make the effort to know me too?

Sincerely,

Employee