About
So where are the pictures of naked people at work? There are none, since I’m not talking about that kind of nudity! I do not advocate that you take off your pants the next time you’re meeting with the boss, however liberating it may feel.
I am talking about intellectual and emotional nudity, or being open to share your thoughts, feelings and beliefs–your humanity, in essence–on the job.
For reasons I can appreciate at first blush, we’ve been taught to hide many parts of ourselves from colleagues, a lesson that causes perpetual problems. When you feel constricted as an employee, limited in your ability to express who you are, you devote significant energy to maintaining a shield between you and your work environment, energy better spent solving task-related problems.
Yet when you feel free to bring all of your self, including the complexities of your gender, race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and physical ability, for example, you’re more engaged and productive, and the organization in which you work succeeds alongside you. The prospect of stripping off the cloaks you wear is exciting!
I’m a training and development consultant, and formally trained as a career counselor. I have a Master of Education in counseling psychology and a Master of Arts in organizational psychology. I help employees thrive in organizations, which often involves making links between their work experience and their internal world. My own connection to the subject starts with being gay and coming out at work, yet there’s more to the way I “arrive” at my job. Keep reading the blog to know more about me…
So let’s explore together. I think you might discover aspects of human life about which you’ve always been curious. And if you want me to come to your workplace to talk about how “nudity” can help yield a more engaged workforce, call me at (917) 705 4591.
-Haig Chahinian
May 12, 2010
Date: January 21, 2010
