C-suite leaders are masters of illusion.
To your team, you look confident, decisive, and composed.
But inside?
You might feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or even a little scared.
That’s okay.
Anne Lamott said it best:
“Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy, and scared, even the people who seem to have it more or less together. They are much more like you than you would believe. So try not to compare your insides to their outsides.”
As an executive, you’re not alone in feeling like you’re playing catch-up in a world that expects you to lead.
But the biggest mistake you can make is hiding behind perfection.
People don’t need untouchable heroes—they need leaders who admit they don’t have all the answers but are willing to figure it out.
Stop trying to match someone else’s highlight reel.
You’re not in competition with a myth.
The pressure to constantly “show strength” creates distance between you and your team.
Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s leadership.
Let your humanity show.
Open Kimono!
Share the struggles that shaped you.
Speak about the risks you took and the failures that taught you resilience.
Your team doesn’t need you to be a Steve Jobs-style visionary.
They need you to be real.
“Leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present in the mess.” – Mike Brewer