💅🏽Performing or Pretending? The Art of the Corporate Pulse Check

Because sometimes it’s not a toxic job—it’s a tired version of you.

Hey Chick,

Let me take you back to a Tuesday. Not just any Tuesday—a full beat face, triple-shot espresso, motivational playlist on blast kinda Tuesday. I was ready to crush it. My inbox was tamed, my team was humming, and I had on my “Don’t Talk to Me Unless It’s About Money or Mimosas” blazer.

And then… it happened.

A simple Slack message.From my manager.No emojis.Just: “Can we chat?”

Girl, I spiraled.

🎭 The Performance Begins

I started mentally reviewing every project, every email, every decision since Q1. My chest tightened. I double-checked my calendar. I checked my sent messages. I even Googled “signs you’re about to be fired for vibes.”

I walked into that Zoom call with the performance of a lifetime. Calm on the outside, full Shakespeare on the inside.

And you know what it was?

“Just wanted to say you’ve been doing great lately. How can I support you more?”

Whew.

That’s when I realized something dangerous had crept in: I was no longer just performing—I was pretending.Pretending to be okay.Pretending to be present.Pretending I knew what I was chasing anymore.

🪞The Mirror Moment: Self-Awareness Isn’t Just for Instagram Quotes

Let’s talk about it.

We spend so much time trying to impress, deliver, and show up strong that we forget to check in. With ourselves.Not the HR pulse survey. Not your 1:1 template.I’m talking about the deep, uncomfortable, “what’s really going on here?” kind of check-in.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:You can’t keep performing at Beyoncé levels if your soul is running on 1% and no charger in sight.

🔍 Managers Pretend. Leaders Pulse-Check.

Let me break it down, Chick:

Pretending (Performative)	Pulse-Checking (Self-Aware)
Says “I’m fine” when you’re unraveling	Admits “I’m overwhelmed—let me recalibrate”
Powers through burnout to prove worth	Pauses to rest, reset, and prioritize
Seeks praise to feel validated	Seeks clarity to feel aligned
Reacts to every fire drill	Responds with intention and boundary
Looks productive on paper	Is impactful in practice

🧠 The Emotional Audit (aka: Are You Just Faking It to Stay Functional?)

Here are 5 quick pulse-check questions I now ask myself weekly:

1. Am I proud of what I’m doing—or just trying to get it over with?

2. Do I feel energized—or just caffeinated and anxious?

3. Am I aligned with my goals—or running someone else’s playbook?

4. Do I feel seen—or am I just being observed?

5. Am I living with purpose—or just collecting performance reviews?

Spoiler alert: If more than two answers made you wince a little, it’s time to check your script, not your Slack.

💥 When Leaders Pretend, Teams Perform Poorly

True story: I once had a manager who never showed an ounce of vulnerability. She was polished, always “on,” and never admitted to being wrong.

At first, I admired her.Then I realized—I was mimicking her.Not her excellence.Her emotional inaccessibility.

The team eventually burned out, trust fell apart, and people left—not because she wasn’t smart, but because she wasn’t real.

The best leaders aren’t perfect. They’re present.They model how to reset, recalibrate, and realign—not perform to the point of collapse.

📥 Cheeky Chick’s Pulse-Check Practice

Add this to your weekly ritual, Chick—preferably with a matcha and a mood playlist:

Check-In Category	Question	Action
🧘🏾‍♀️ Mind	What’s been on a loop in my head lately?	Journal it out. Name the stressor.
❤️ Heart	What emotion have I been ignoring this week?	Call a friend. Get honest. Cry if you need to.
💼 Work	What task drained me most? What lit me up?	Reschedule or delegate where possible.
💪🏽 Body	How has my body been talking to me?	Sleep. Stretch. Sip water.
🔥 Ambition	Is my hustle aligned with my values?	Adjust your to-do list to reflect your “why.”

💬 Final Word: You Can’t Be Legendary on Empty

Performing is seductive. You get the claps, the compliments, the LinkedIn love.But pretending? That’s the slowest betrayal of self there is.So ask yourself:

Am I playing the part of the person I think they want me to be...or becoming the version I’m proud to be when no one’s clapping?

You don’t owe anyone perfection.You owe yourself the truth.

So stay cheeky, stay self-aware, and remember:You’re not here to perform. You’re here to evolve.

💋 With love, light, and weekly check-ins,The Cheeky Chick

Want a printable Self-Awareness Pulse Check Tracker?

Need this post broken into a carousel or journaling prompt set for Instagram?Just say the word, Chick—I got you.

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