So once I got to attend an “executive coaching session” a few years back down in Florida. It really was group therapy intervention. I should have known when they told us there would be no alcohol allowed for the week, and that they strongly urged us not use any drugs (e.g. painkillers).  The other giveaway? Tons of tissue boxes scattered around the room. But I digress.

Upon arriving, we all hung out in the main room. Casual introductions and chatter “How did you get here, where do you work, etc…” were the questions…no different than the ones you would ask when meeting a group of strangers. In walks the facilitator. He gives us our first assignment.

“Pick 5 people in this room and write down 3 reasons why you would and would not want to work for them.”

WHAAT?!!!

We all looked at him in horror and disbelief. He brushed away our protests, and told us to just do it. So we did.

You know what?  People get who you are. I was shocked at what people said about me. I am sure they were shocked about what I said about them.

What I learned from that? People are smart, they will figure out what you’re about regardless of what image you think you’re projecting.  No one is that good an actor. So either be the person you really want to be, or own who you are. But know that they know.