, Think Being “Authentic” Means You’ve Arrived? Not So Fast...

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Hi !

Last time, we peeled off the mask and talked about authenticity. How it’s not a motivational quote but a wild, sometimes scary, always rewarding way to lead.

Some of you reached out to share how liberating it felt to drop your “professional persona” and actually be yourself at work. High fives all around.

So, what’s next after you’ve shown everyone the real, unfiltered you?

Here’s a hint: empathy. 

Because being authentic is one thing, actually tuning in to others’ realities is a whole new ball game.

And trust me, it’s the difference between a connected, high-performing team and a lonely, chaotic circus.

What’s In It For You:

• Mindset Shift: Realise why empathy is more than just feeling sorry for folks and instead it’s the backbone of true, results-driven leadership.

• 3 Bold Hacks: Unconventional ways to ramp up your empathy game (because standard-issue advice won’t cut it here).

• Case Study: A prominent leader who turned empathy into a cultural force, boosting performance along the way.

Why Empathy Goes Beyond Just “Being Nice”

I used to think empathy meant nodding along with everyone’s troubles.

Something like: “Awww, that must be tough.”

But that’s not empathy; that’s generic politeness.

True empathy is stepping into someone else’s experience so deeply, you start seeing the world through their eyes.

It’s the key to building trust, diffusing tension, and opening up creativity because your people actually feel heard.

Heads-up: Empathy can be exhausting if you do it wrong. You’ve gotta combine it with healthy boundaries (remember those from a few newsletters ago?), or you’ll burn out trying to absorb everyone’s emotions. But done right, empathy will drastically reduce conflicts, spark loyalty, and elevate engagement like nothing else.

Hacks for the Bold

1. “Spotlight on the Quiet Voices”
   In your next meeting, pick the person who speaks the least and directly ask for their input first. Then, follow up with clarifying questions, real ones, not a token “Is that clear?” This simple shift shows you genuinely want to see the world from their perspective.

2. “Emotional Temperature Check”
   Start or end the week with a quick, 1-2 word emotional check-in via Slack or a team huddle. No judging, no solving. Just let everyone share their vibe. You’d be amazed at how a shared “exhausted” or “fired-up” can spark empathy across the group.

3. “Team Swap Day”
   If possible, let team members shadow someone from a different department or role for a day. It sounds radical, but nothing builds empathy faster than literally stepping into someone else’s day-to-day chaos. Bonus: it often reveals processes that can be improved (or tossed entirely).

Case Study: Tobi Lütke at Shopify

Tobi Lütke, Shopify’s co-founder and CEO, took empathy to a new level by championing radical transparency and cross-functional collaboration.

He established open “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions, encouraging any employee (from interns to seasoned leads) to openly question leadership decisions, voice concerns, or pitch ideas.

This resulted in a culture that doesn’t that breathes empathy. Shopify’s meteoric rise can be linked, in part, to Lütke’s ethos of genuine curiosity about others’ viewpoints.

Key takeaway: Empathy is still often viewed as a soft skill. In my view, it can be defined as the pace and trajectory of a company’s growth.

“Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up” by Jerry Colonna

If you’re looking for a great read into raw, human-centric leadership (where empathy is front and centre), grab “Reboot” by Jerry Colonna.

This book tackles the messy stuff, like fear, heartbreak, and personal growth in a way that ties directly into how you lead.

No frills, no fluff, just honest insights on how to balance empathy with decisive leadership.

Quick Note: Schedule Your Free 30-Minute Clarity Call

If you feel your team’s struggles run deeper than a lack of processes, you might be missing an empathy backbone.

I’ve helped leaders transform friction into fluid collaboration by dialling up authentic understanding (without turning into a pushover).

Ready to see how empathy can rev up your leadership style?

👉 Schedule your complimentary 30-minute clarity call here

Let's Reflect:

1. In the last heated conversation you had, did you try to understand the other person’s view, or just prove your own?

2. Where in your organization is empathy obviously missing, and what’s that costing you?

3. How can you introduce a small daily or weekly habit that forces you to hear people out fully?

Fun Corner

“The Perspective Switch”

• Over coffee or lunch, challenge a colleague to pitch you on why their role is tougher than yours.

• Then reverse it, defend why you think your role is the trickiest.

• Laugh, debate, and watch how quickly you start seeing each other’s day-to-day hurdles in a new light.

Think of it as empathy speed-dating. You’ll be shocked at how much you learn in just 10 minutes.

Thank you to everyone who responded last week!

A Personal Reflection

Early on in my career, I recall a time when a manager assumed I was “slacking” because deadlines kept slipping.

When they finally paused judgment and asked a few genuine questions, I was given the opportunity to talk about the technical hurdles and resource issues never considered.

Once we addressed those stumbling blocks together and they got to see how I see the issue, it significantly helped the project through, and our relationship became bulletproof.

Funny how actually seeing someone’s reality changes the entire game.

The Final Word

Being authentic is one thing; weaving empathy into that authenticity is the next level of leadership.

Take time to step into someone else’s world, and you’ll not only solve problems faster, you’ll win the kind of loyalty money can’t buy.

Share Your Thoughts

Have a story where empathy made all the difference, or where the lack of it nearly blew up a project?

Hit reply and let me know. Nothing’s off the table in this space, we learn best from the gritty, real stuff.

How Else I Can Help

I also offer consulting services based on my senior leadership experience and am available for speaking engagements, including events, keynotes, podcasts, and course recordings.

For further details, contact me here or reply to this email.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

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