Unleash Your Inner Butterfly at Work – Why, and 4 Ways To Start

I’ve always enjoyed a great transformation story. Like when Han Solo evolved from living in the shadows as a smuggler into one of the leading heroes of the original Star Wars trilogy, or singer Adele’s healthy living journey after she started focusing on her well-being. But the most impressive transformation process is something I learned about in elementary school — how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

During that multi-week metamorphosis process, a caterpillar drastically rearranges every fiber of its being, literally, to emerge as either a butterfly or a moth. A lot can go wrong during that time when they are most vulnerable to disruptive weather or attacks from predators looking for a snack. But when the butterfly emerges, it can be glorious to behold.

Like butterflies, many of us have had a metamorphosis of sorts in our careers. Maybe you started every meeting with self-deprecating comments, kicked that detrimental apology-speak habit to the curb, and now stand confident in your capabilities and personal power. Perhaps you have spent decades observing what NOT to do as a leader and want to create a more positive culture.

Whatever the case, you deserve to maximize your fulfillment and success at work. It can be exhausting trying to maintain two separate identities — work you and personal you. Consider bringing those facets together in the workplace by unleashing your inner butterfly, which I define as the most confident, authentic version of yourself.

“Being your true authentic self means that what you say in life aligns with your actions,” said Jennifer Foust, an expert in family therapy and the clinical director at the Center for Growth, on their website. “Your authentic self goes beyond what you do for a living, what possessions you own, or who you are to someone (mom, brother, girlfriend). It is who you are at your deepest core. It is about being true to yourself through your thoughts, words, and actions, and having these three areas match each other.”

Personally, I became more successful when I started leading with humor and compassion. However, I had to find the right balance of letting my inner butterfly fully shine within each distinct work environment. One culture might reward you for taking risks and speaking your mind, while another emphasizes groupthink and conformity over creativity. To each his own, right?

To help you navigate that process, I created this list of 4 ways to unleash your inner butterfly at work:

1. Own your strengths.

Famed poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Chances are good that you have faced some challenges in your career — layoffs, leadership changes, seeing projects you labored over canceled or discounted and so much more. Think about how you have grown as a professional over the course of your career. Take a moment and list your key strengths. Has change made you incredibly resilient or prompted you to think more strategically? List everything you can think of and savor each strength. This is the foundation of your inner butterfly, and appreciating these qualities is integral to knowing your worth.

2. Be true to yourself.

Your authentic self is the real you — the person who you truly are when you’re being completely honest with yourself. When you eschew your genuine personality to fit into a mold that is uncomfortable and constricting — before long you could find yourself stuck.

Maybe you feel that you must behave a certain way to get ahead in business. Let’s say that your first boss after college, that guy who constantly bragged about the amount of money he made and regularly berated employees in public, was one of the stars in your company. You believed emulating him would make you more successful, and it might have in that environment — for a while. But now a few years later, the pressure to act that way makes you feel uneasy and unfulfilled.

It is time to start leaning into who you are. Look for role models in your company who reflect your values and beliefs; you can reach out asking for advice about how they have thrived in your culture. And, if you don’t see anyone else in leadership who feels like a kindred spirit, perhaps it is time to look for a new gig more aligned with your inner butterfly.

3. Redesign your playbook.

Behaviors that may have worked well for you in the past may not serve you today. Perhaps your deep-rooted fear of being an imposter at work caused you to give 200% on all projects, which led to multiple promotions. But now, your talent is crystal clear to you and others, and you’re done with that mountain of self-doubt. You don’t have to completely throw out the playbook of what worked in the past. Instead, redesign behaviors and outputs to reflect who you are now while continuing to add value.

4. Start taking chances.

Ever see the movie Pleasantville, where the repressed 1950’s characters are stuck in black and white until they start being authentic and become colorized? If you work in an environment where you are unsure how your inner butterfly may be received, start with smaller test balloons to see how things will land. Speak up when you usually remain quiet, organize a social gathering for co-workers to promote camaraderie, or test out a new interactive presentation format.

But do keep your audience in mind. For example, if you work for a very conservative company, that might not be the best place to display a t-shirt that reads “Eat the Rich” during the next employee event.

How have you unleashed your inner butterfly in your career? What has the result been?