I like to lead by following my heart. No cookie-cutter approach.
I see people trying to mimic “perfect leaders” and struggling to inspire their teams.
So when I hear this, it’s a red flag:

“Be yourself — not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be."
It’s forcing something they’re not.
The best leadership comes from 3 essentials:
1. Self-Awareness + Authenticity
→ Are you leading in a way that feels natural to you?
→ Are you playing up your strengths (not playing them down)?
→ The hardest part… be honest with yourself.
2. Empathy + Understanding
→ Do you truly listen to others’ ideas and challenges?
→ Are you making space for others to be themselves too?
→ Activate your curiosity.
3. Flexibility + Growth Mindset
→ Are you open to learning from others, above and below you?
→ Are you brave, not tied to expectations and “shoulds”?
→ Are you experimenting and seeing what “fits” for your leadership?
Leadership success comes from the confidence to show up as you.
Not from following someone else’s script.
EARN the right to lead by being unapologetically you.
Results will follow.
“Be yourself — not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.”
Henry David Thoreau
American essayist, poet, philosopher, and naturalist