Out to connect, out to influence
Andy Cast as the new Chair of the University of Southampton LGBT Network. He explains how
his life has been affected as an openly gay man.
“I’m an out gay man and have been for the
last decade or so. My colleagues at work and
all my friends and family know. I’m usually
less forthcoming about my sexuality with my
business stakeholders. I don’t believe the fact
I’m attracted to men changes my ability to do
my job; the fact I’m gay should be irrelevant.
There’s also a nagging doubt as I’m never quite
sure how people will react if they know. Will
my stakeholders take me seriously or listen to
my advice? As a business partner I have to be
credible and trusted, so I’ve felt I need to hide
this very important bit of me.
However, I’ve realised I need to change my
attitude. When I was a counsellor I learnt a lot
about congruence and I encourage managers
to be congruent through my coaching.
Congruence is all about giving the same
message in your words as you are giving with
your body language. It means being honest and
saying what you really mean.
It’s so important to have ‘authenticity’ as a
business leader. When you are authentic people
know they can trust you and believe what you
do and say. Trust is one of the most important
things we can inspire in our colleagues.
This will be important for me as Chair of the
LGBT Employee Network, another role I’ve
just taken on. I feel it’s hugely important to
show everyone in the University you can be
successful whatever your sexuality. For this to
really work I need to be authentic and proud
of who I am. The University has given me
this opportunity to be an example to others,
and I feel supported to be authentic because
my colleagues and our diversity policies are
supportive too.”
Andy Cast – Head of HR Business
Partnering at the University of Southampton.
17
