Why Authenticity and Vulnerability Are Your Leadership Superpowers

Alright, let's get real. How often have you walked into a meeting with that "I'm totally fine" face while screaming internally? If you're like me, more times than you care to admit. Here's the deal - pretending to be someone you're not is exhausting.

I’ve tried it, and trust me, it sucks.

I remember my early days in the corporate world, suited up, polished, and trying to sound more intelligent than I was. I even dyed my hair black from my natural light brown/blonde because I couldn't get people in business to take me seriously. 

Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

The turning point? Realizing that my authentic self, f-bombs and all, was my greatest asset. People don’t want a robot; they want a natural, relatable leader who occasionally slips up. You’ve got a choice: pretend or build. 

Pretending is a waste of time. Choose building instead. I became a top sales rep by focusing on my skills, determination, and love of sales—not by dyeing my hair. The recognition came from my hard work and authenticity, not from pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

So, take a deep breath and embrace your quirks. 

Whether you’re a morning grump or a coffee addict (guilty!), let your true colors show. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to lead when you’re not pretending to be someone else.

The Power of Vulnerability

Here’s a fun fact: admitting you don’t have all the answers doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human. I used to think I had to know everything. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. And neither do you. Vulnerability is a superpower in leadership development. 

One day, after a particularly disastrous pitch to a potential new customer (we’re talking epic fail), I stood in front of my team and said, “Well, that sucked. Any ideas on how we can suck less next time?” The response was amazing. Instead of losing respect, my team rallied. We brainstormed, laughed, and eventually nailed the next pitch.

Vulnerability fosters trust and encourages collaboration. So go ahead and admit you’re not perfect. Your team will thank you for it. Being truthful means getting vulnerable about what you see and saying it out loud. It’s not just about being relatable—that’s the old way of thinking. Vulnerability lets leaders fail faster; when you fail faster, you succeed sooner. I see leaders holding back because they’re afraid of hurting feelings or causing a stir, but honesty and openness speed up growth and improvement.

Building Genuine Connections

Let’s talk about building genuine connections. People can smell bullshit from a mile away. Being “professional” doesn’t mean keeping a distance. People appreciate honesty and authenticity. When I started being real and honest, genuine connections formed, my team became more engaged, clients more loyal, and my stress levels dropped—being authentic means being productive. Bullshit just comes off as fake, and most people are just shy or playing hard to get, which is a waste of everyone’s time.

Here’s a story: I’m a hugger in my personal life and always have been with friends and family. But pitching to venture capitalists made me stop. After some coaching and therapy, I felt safe enough to try it at work. I asked for permission and hugged my sales manager, who looked like he needed it. Faking or avoiding real human connection comes off as deceptive. Wasting time on mushy connections isn’t productive. Building genuine connections isn’t rocket science. It’s about being honest, listening, and showing you care. So, drop the act and start building honest connections. 

Try it. You might just like it.

Leading with authenticity isn’t just a trendy buzzword—it’s a game-changer in business development. By embracing your true self, showing vulnerability, and building genuine connections, you can lead with more confidence and less stress. So, ditch the corporate mask and see how it transforms your leadership style. 

If you want to learn more about authentic leadership, check out my Substack post “F&*% Your Cold Plunge, The Magic of Surrendering to Your Own Rhythm.”