Reveal yourself
You've built walls around yourself. Carefully constructed barriers of professionalism, expertise, and authority. You think they make you a stronger leader. They don't. They're holding you back.
Your team doesn't need a perfect, polished facade. They need you - the real you. The one with doubts and fears. The one who sometimes doesn't have all the answers. The one who's excited, passionate, and yes, sometimes uncertain.
Revealing yourself isn't about oversharing or turning the office into a therapy session. It's about showing up as a whole person. It's admitting when you're wrong. It's sharing why a project excites you. It's letting your team see your thought process, not just your conclusions.
You're afraid that vulnerability will undermine your authority. The opposite is true. When you open up, you give others permission to do the same. You create an environment where ideas flow freely, where risks are taken, where innovation thrives.
Think about the leaders you truly admire. Chances are, you know something about them as people, not just as figureheads. They've let you in, shown you what drives them, shared their vision in a way that's real and human.
So, tomorrow, try this: Share a concern you have about a project. Ask for help with something you're struggling with. Tell your team why your work matters to you personally. Watch what happens. You might be surprised at the energy and commitment you unlock.
Revealing yourself isn't always comfortable. But comfort isn't the goal. Impact is. And you can't have real impact without real connection.
Your team is waiting to meet the real you. What are you waiting for?