A REAL BABY
Last week, I viewed a fascinating webinar by a fellow coach at AIIR consulting, Jonathan Burman, on Corporate Cringe, which he defined as "language or behavior by corporations that may have good intentions but appear dishonest, manipulative or tone-deaf." He shared statistics and examples of how young employees are highly skeptical of any inauthentic behavior by the organizations they are part of. We brainstormed how to help leaders cut through virtue signaling and performative actions that are offputting to young workers. Interestingly, Jonathan shared that even the word "authentic" has become cringeworthy from overuse.
The word they use for this in our little ranching town is "legit." For example, seeing city folks wear cowboy boots and hats, they put on once a year to attend our local rodeo is not legit. However, seeing a family bundled up in mud-spattered Carhart jackets and gathering cows in the freezing cold is legit. I have been looking all week for a powerful "anti-cringe" example of "legit" behavior to include in this post. Last night, I found it in an unlikely place.
Our family attended a live nativity scene in a neighboring town. The temperature was freezing, and after a long wagon ride to get to the display, we were anxious to hurry through and return to our warm car. We walked briskly through the amazing recreation of Bethlehem with actors and animals. There was just one thing missing: where was the Holy Family? Then, we saw a light coming from the door of a small horse stall at the far end of a barn.
We walked toward it, and just as we came around the corner - we saw him. A real baby cradled in his mother's arms. We all became incredibly emotional. We had never seen a real baby in any outdoor nativity scene, and this baby couldn't have been more than a few weeks old. It stunned us. I found out afterward that this little town has been holding this event for years. They find a young couple who have just had a baby, and they create a safe space with hidden heaters. They understand that having the real thing makes all the difference.
