Codeword reposted this
The phrase "authentic leadership" is burnt out. It's been working overtime, and after reading a recent piece on how authenticity backfires, I realize we've collectively lost the plot on what it was meant to accomplish. To be clear, I don't oppose authenticity. It's actually one of the most powerful tools for brand building. But the word itself has become hollow (even triggering to some), giving leaders permission to be unfiltered instead of strategic. As someone who counsels execs on their internal and external presence and a leader myself, I learned our job isn't to be perfectly raw; it's to be purposefully congruent. Congruence means your actions, messages, and decisions align with the story you're telling both internally and externally. You're a diplomat for the brand, and that takes strategy, not just gut instinct. Here's how I'd rebrand "authentic leadership": 1️⃣ Stop performing, start aligning: Every decision should map back to your external narrative. This is about being more intentional, not less honest. Ask yourself: does this move strengthen or contradict the leadership story I'm building? 2️⃣ Your employees are your accountability meter: Internal comms reveals whether your leadership story carpet matches the reality drapes. I personally track my hoped-for leadership traits against peer feedback annually. That gap (or lack of one) tells me everything about whether I'm actually walking my talk. 3️⃣ Congruence levels the playing field. For women, the "authenticity" bar is set unfairly high. Vulnerability in men reads "brave." In women, it's "distracting." Congruent leadership focuses on alignment, not emotion. Lead with high EQ strategy, deliver with low ego. Authenticity got us part of the way there. Alignment will take us the rest of the way. One place to start? Pick one leadership trait you want to be known for. Then audit your last five decisions against it. If they don't line up, you've found your gap. (Link to HBR article in comments)