You know the feeling: you behave differently with the love of your life than you do with your parents, your friends, or your team. We all wear different masks in everyday life – and that's perfectly fine.
Why do we wear a different mask at work than in private life?
It only becomes difficult once we start pretending within these different roles – consciously wearing a mask. For many people, this works surprisingly well. Well, until emotions come into play. And we all experience them at some point, especially the negative ones: anger, frustration, irritation. They act like a small switch that briefly deactivates our role-play and lets you catch a glimpse behind your own mask – or your counterpart's. Very few people have enough self-control to prevent that every time.
Why are your own values so important for leaders?
When you know how you truly function, you can shape your expectations of yourself and others clearly from the start – instead of waiting until emotions briefly lift your own mask. When you know your values and what matters to you – but also what doesn't –, you can more quickly understand what fits you and feels right, but also why certain behaviours in others irritate you. This is exactly where Face Reading comes in within leadership coaching. Because while behaviour, words, and even body language can be trained and put on, the features of the face remain honest. They reveal personality, talents, and what truly drives you – regardless of which role you happen to be playing.
In coaching, we therefore start by looking at you: What do you truly need in order to lead well? What expectations do you have of yourself – and of others, often without ever voicing them? This self-awareness is the foundation for everything that follows. Because only once you're aware of what drives you and how you're wired can you use that insight to read your employees more clearly, communicate more precisely, and set expectations that are genuinely understood.
Does nobody have common sense anymore?
Does this sound familiar? The problem is that we assume it's all just common sense. The only question is: YOUR common sense or MINE? Why do we assume that others automatically know what we're thinking, how we function, and above all, what we expect? We all had different upbringings, different environments, different educations, and above all, different mindsets. On top of that, we live in a globalised world with different cultures and an equally globalised body of knowledge with even more diverse approaches. Employees are not mind readers – at least, that was rarely part of the job description.
Where does genuine leadership behind the mask begin?
That's exactly why relying on your own common sense – or what you assume is common sense – gets you nowhere when leading others. What feels self-evident to you may not be self-evident to the person in front of you at all. Genuine leadership begins with yourself – with clarity about how you think and act, and what you truly need. Only from there can you stop assuming common ground and really look closely: What genuinely drives this person? What are they really like – behind their own mask?
Face Reading in leadership coaching gives you exactly the tool for that: so vague expectations don't turn into frustration, but into genuine, well-aimed leadership.
Ready to see yourself and your team more clearly?
Do you want to understand what truly drives you, what you need and expect – and how to use that knowledge to lead, communicate, and make decisions more clearly with your team? In my leadership coaching, I combine Face Reading with concrete leadership tools for your everyday work.
How do I support you in leadership coaching?
- You get to know your own values, strengths, and blind spots.
- You understand what truly drives you – including the moments when emotions briefly lift your mask.
- You set clear, well-matched expectations for yourself and your team right from the start.
- You make leadership decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
- You pass this understanding on to your team in a targeted way.
About Me
Silvia Nussbaumer is an expert in Face Reading, Profiling, and Leadership Coaching with over 20 years of experience. Internationally trained and working with an equally international clientele from business, industry, private individuals, and the police, I see myself as an interpreter between mind and body – I read personality, talents, and life purpose, and turn that insight into practical value through coaching and readings. I also pass on my knowledge through training programmes – in Face Reading and Profiling as well as in advanced leadership topics.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation first conversation – I look forward to hearing from you: info@sn-coaching.com