Leaders face a tricky balance today. Your team wants you to be genuine and open, but they also expect you to have your act together. It's like walking a tightrope — lean too far in either direction, and you might fall.
But let's be honest: you can't show up to work and dump all your problems on your team. They need stability. They need someone who can steer the ship when waters get rough. So how do you balance being human with being the leader they need?
Start by choosing your moments
Be selectively vulnerable in ways that build trust and connection. Share your learning moments rather than your current crises. Talk about a mistake you made last year and what you learned from it. Discuss how you overcame a similar challenge in the past. This shows you're human without making your team worry about your current judgment.
Set clear boundaries
You can be real without being raw. Acknowledge when you don't have all the answers, but pair that honesty with your plan to find them. Say things like, "I'm not sure about the best approach here, but I'm going to research our options and get back to you by Friday." This approach shows humility while maintaining confidence in your leadership abilities.
Use timing wisely
Context matters enormously. One-on-one conversations allow for deeper vulnerability than team meetings. A casual coffee chat might be the right time to share a personal challenge, while a board presentation calls for more polished communication.
Practice transparent communication
Radical transparency doesn't mean sharing everything — it means sharing what matters to your team's success and growth. Be open about company challenges that affect them directly. Explain your decision-making process. Admit when you've changed your mind about something important.
Stay solution-focused
When you do share struggles, always include your plan for moving forward. Your team needs to see that you're not just identifying problems — you're actively working to solve them.
The goal isn't perfect authenticity or flawless professionalism. It's finding the right mix for your team and situation. Some groups thrive with more openness, while others need more structure and certainty from their leaders.
Remember, being authentic as a leader means being the best version of yourself, not the most unfiltered version. Your team deserves honesty, but they also deserve confidence that you can guide them through whatever comes next.