Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging.
In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader.
Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.
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Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging.
In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader.
Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.
966: LEADERSHIP MINDSET: The Truth About the Authenticity Trap for Women Leaders
Shameless Leadership
33 minutes
1 week ago
966: LEADERSHIP MINDSET: The Truth About the Authenticity Trap for Women Leaders
In this episode, I’m exposing the Authenticity Trap for you. The Authenticity Trap is the mixed messages women get about “being themselves.” We’re told authenticity is the key to trust, confidence, and influence, yet many of us were conditioned to 1) think we need to lead like men if we want to make it to the top to serve, and 2) constantly abandon our own needs and wants to center and care for those around us. That means when we try to show up authentically, we often bump up against years of social conditioning that taught us to prioritize likability over authenticity. The authenticity trap is what happens when the call to “be yourself” collides with systems and expectations that were never designed to make room for your full, real self.
In this episode, I unpack why so many women struggle with authenticity in leadership. It’s not because we lack confidence or clarity, but because we’ve learned to perform leadership instead of embodying it in a way that is true to who we are. We’ve been rewarded for being agreeable, accommodating, and endlessly capable, even when that performance costs us energy, boundaries, and joy. The result of the Authenticity Trap is burnout, disconnection, and missed opportunities to share your best self with the world.
Of course, I’m not going to leave you hanging without an action plan. We will dig into simple ways to begin reclaiming your authenticity as a daily leadership practice. We’ll talk about getting clear on your values and boundaries, noticing when you’re performing versus connecting, and experimenting with small, brave acts of honesty and self-expression. My hope is that you walk away knowing that authenticity isn’t a luxury or a buzzword. It’s a muscle that, when strengthened, allows you to tap into who you truly are when you disconnect from all the noise around you. When you strengthen this muscle and step out of the Authenticity Trap, you not only lead with more joy, ease, and impact — you also give everyone around you permission to do the same.
Links Mentioned:
[NOVEMBER 20th] Join my 90-minute Leadership Roundtable, Thriving in Leadership in Uncertain Times: saradean.com/roundtable
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Shameless Leadership
Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging.
In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader.
Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.
