Something has been happening on my discovery calls that I absolutely love.
People get on the call with me and say some version of, “I can’t believe it’s you. You’re exactly who I thought you were.”
They have watched my videos, taken my courses, read something I’ve written, or followed my work, and when we finally meet, they discover that the person they have been seeing is the person who shows up for them.
That’s important to me because I want people to know what they see is what they get. Who I am in my videos is who I am when I work with you. I bring my experience and expertise into the room, but I also bring myself.
And before we have even started talking about what brought them to me, something incredibly valuable has already begun to form: trust.
Authenticity has become an increasingly important part of leadership. We have more ways than ever to polish our messages, prepare our presentations, and carefully choose how we show up publicly. There is value in being prepared and professional, but the people we lead also want to know there is a real person behind all of it.
They want someone they can relate to. Someone they can talk to honestly. Someone who creates enough trust for them to say, “This is what’s really going on.”
That is when we can get to the heart of the matter.
For me, leadership has never been about creating an image of someone who has everything figured out. Throughout my work, I have shared my vulnerabilities, my mistakes, the lessons I have learned, and the ways I have grown. There is tremendous value in showing people that leadership and humanity can coexist in the same room.
When people experience us as authentic, it creates space for them to be authentic too.
That matters when we are working through conflict. The most productive conversations happen when people feel they can bring their real concerns, experiences, perspectives, and ideas into the room. A leader who has established trust can help create the conditions for those conversations to happen.
And once we get there, we can do some powerful work.
I work with leaders who want to become more skilled at shifting the energy in a room, easing tension, strengthening communication, and helping people engage with one another differently. These are leadership skills, but they are also life skills. The ability to listen, communicate honestly, be vulnerable, and engage in conflict productively can transform the relationships we have at work and far beyond.
One of the greatest compliments I can receive is not that someone thinks I’m perfect. It’s that they know I’m real, they trust that I know what I’m doing, and they feel confident bringing the things that matter to them into our work together.
Leaders have the opportunity to create that same experience for the people around them.
Ask yourself:
- Do the people I lead experience the same person I believe myself to be?
- Does the way you communicate reflect the values you talk about? Do people feel comfortable bringing their ideas and perspectives to you?
- Does your leadership invite people to show up honestly?
Authenticity does not mean sharing everything with everyone or abandoning professionalism. It means there is alignment between who you say you are and how people actually experience you.
That alignment builds credibility. Credibility builds trust. And trust gives us a stronger foundation for the conversations, relationships, and results we want to create.
After all these years of doing this work, I know that people work with me because I’m real, I know what I’m doing, and I can help them develop the skills to approach situations in their businesses and lives differently.
That’s exactly how I want it to be.
If you are ready to become more confident in the way you communicate, navigate conflict, and lead the people who trust you to guide them, I invite you to book a complimentary Leadership Strategy Call with me.
We’ll get to the heart of what’s happening and talk about how you can strengthen the skills that help you lead with greater confidence, authenticity, and connection.
Learn more and schedule your call here.
