By Contributor,Rhett Power

Copyright forbes

At one point or another, almost every leadership keynote, LinkedIn post, or startup podcast has proclaimed authenticity the holy grail of modern leadership. It’s not surprising. We’re living in an era where leaders are expected to be transparent, genuine, relatable, and values-driven. Being skilled or strategic isn’t the only priority.

But here’s the rub: While authenticity is one of the most admired leadership traits, it’s also wildly misunderstood. I’ve seen entrepreneurs and executives try to “be real” in ways that backfire, whether it’s venting unfiltered frustrations in front of a team or confusing vulnerability with a public therapy session.

Authenticity, when practiced well, builds trust and influence. But when misapplied, it creates confusion, instability, and even fear. So, how do you strike the right balance? How do you be human without losing authority, be open without oversharing? Below are three practical ways leaders and entrepreneurs can express authenticity without eroding credibility:

1. Clarify your intent, not just your feelings

We often equate authenticity with speaking off the cuff or “telling it like it is.” But that’s not authenticity—it’s really impulsivity. The most trusted leaders are real and intentional. They say what they feel in the moment and take time to share the why behind the what. That’s what creates clarity, and clarity builds trust.

Scott Weighart, an executive advisor and Senior Director of Leadership Programs at BTS, explained it to me like so: “When my team studies executive presence, authenticity is one of the most revealing dimensions. What’s interesting is that almost every leader scores high on being seen as ‘genuine.’ Authenticity is more than just being seen as ‘real.’ Where leaders really stand out—or fall short—is in how they share the why behind the what. When they explain the intent behind the content of their words and decisions, people feel clarity and trust.”

And that trust has real business implications. Today’s workforce is searching for purpose. Research shows employees thrive in workplaces where their “whole self” is seen, valued, and developed. That only happens when leaders clearly communicate their values and decisions in ways that invite connection.

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2. Use vulnerability to create connection

The idea of vulnerability can make even seasoned founders squirm. But showing some humanity doesn’t weaken leadership but strengthens it. The key is being thoughtfully vulnerable, not emotionally erratic.

Take the story of Nancy, a high-performing leader Weighart once worked with. She had built her identity—and her career—around winning big deals. She assumed people admired her for her results. But during a candid conversation, Weighart explained that her boss delivered a gut-punch: “Nancy, no one wants to work with you.”

At first, she laughed. Surely that wasn’t true. But it was. Her team had gone behind her back to say how difficult she was to work for. Rather than get defensive, Weighart said Nancy took a breath. The next day, she gathered her team and said, “I owe you an apology. I haven’t been the kind of leader you’d want to work for. I don’t know yet how I’ll fix it, but I promise I’ll figure it out.”

According to Weighart, that moment—open, humble, and unpolished—changed everything. For the first time, Nancy’s team saw her as someone who valued them above outcomes. Trust started to rebuild, not because she showed weakness, but because she showed accountability.

3. Strike a balance between transparency and restraint

This is the tightrope walk of leadership authenticity. Overshare, and you might sound selfish or unstable. Under-share, and you might leave your team uncertain and guessing, and as Weighart pointed out, “When people have to guess, they usually assume the worst.”

“Authenticity is about striking the right balance,” he said. “Share too much, and you risk being seen as blunt or self-absorbed. Share too little, and people are left guessing. The goal isn’t to reveal everything; you want to give enough clarity about your intent so others don’t have to fill in the blanks.”

In my own experience, I’ve seen leaders try to be “raw and real” by expressing every emotion they feel in the moment. It doesn’t create connection—it creates chaos. On the flip side, I’ve seen leaders who stay silent during pivotal moments. That silence doesn’t communicate strength, but rather it creates a vacuum, and vacuums get filled with fear.

The best leaders find the middle ground. They share enough to offer clarity and show humanity, but not so much that they overwhelm or confuse. They don’t hide their values; they lead with them. But they also don’t treat every team meeting like a confessional booth.

Influence grows when trust is earned, not demanded

Authenticity isn’t a free pass to say whatever you want. It’s a discipline and a leadership skill. And in a world where trust is fragile and attention spans are short, leaders who practice authentic communication—not just authentic emotion—stand out.

If you’re a founder, executive, or entrepreneur trying to build your leadership presence, remember this: You don’t have to bare your soul to be seen as real. You just have to make your intent clear, your values visible, and your humanity present.

That’s how authentic leaders earn influence and keep it.

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