Hiding Inadequacies

...most people at work, even in high performing organisations, divert considerable energy every day to a second job that no one has hired them to do: preserving their reputations, putting their best selves forward, and hiding their inadequacies from others and themselves. We believe this is the single biggest cause of wasted resources in nearly every company today. What would happen if people felt no need to do this second job?"

Robert Kegan, Making Business Personal, Harvard Business Review. April, 2014

Interesting quote.  This part of the quote stands out to me “hiding their inadequacies from others and themselves”.  If the goal is hiding, you never learn how to manage or improve the “Inadequacies”.  You put energy into managing your struggles.  There is less energy or focus to manage goals, priorities, people or programs.  

Each of us has 100% available to us everyday. That is a metaphor for the time, energy, focus, or skills that you have available to use each day. This seems obvious but examine how do you spend that 100% - your time, energy focus or skills.  How much is spent managing anxiety, depression, worry, fear, stress or addiction, the list could go on and on.  

I learned a long time ago that the more I tried to deny or hide my problems the more they grew.  My goal is to live in the sweet spot of my strengths, but that is not accomplished by hiding my weaknesses.  I have learned that I need community, a desire to learn and grow and an intimate relationship with God.  I struggle with keeping this in balance, but I want to live in the light not hiding in the dark.  

Have you seen the truth of the quote above in your life or in the people or organizations you manage?