Recently during a soccer game, we were losing and our goalie was out. Aside from being a star goalie, she is the highest communicator on the team. For a coachless rec league, she serves as our eyes and our guide. She maintains alignment, and she assumes the role herself.
While my soccer skills are average (realistically, below average — I am quite literally out of my league), I saw a gap in leadership. It was hurting us, so I filled it. “Drop!” “Man on!” I became the over-communicator. Despite my nerves reminding me of my status in the league, I pushed on. I was resilient. Resilience is a series of hard choices.
Not only did the opposing team notice, but they sought to neutralize me. They over-invested in me. They assumed I was a leader because I was leading. But the over-investment was misinformed. And we tied.
With resilience, I faked it till I made it. And I achieved alignment.
The same thing happens in the workplace. The fundamentals of “fake-it-til-you-make-it” assume confidence in your subject matter. Even though I lacked skills, my confidence and proactivity earned respect. Communication is the most crucial skill to achieve alignment. Hard work without alignment is ineffective for the whole team. And junior or senior people can achieve alignment.
Thanks for reading! I am Layla. Subscribe for weekly lessons from a startup founder.
I love this story so much!! It really is amazing how fully embracing an identity that you don't think fully belongs to you can have some really incredible impacts.