Permission to Be Weird: Why Authenticity Is a Leadership Superpower

Let’s be honest—some of us just don’t fit the “executive” mold.

I’m not wearing a blazer. I don’t talk in Agile poetry. My leadership voice is mostly sarcasm, blunt honesty, and a dash of nerdy pop culture references. And yes, I wear graphic tees and shorts to work. Every. Single. Day.

And guess what? It works.

For too long, leadership has been sold as a costume. Button up. Fall in line. Use phrases like “circle back” and “drive alignment.” But here’s the real deal: teams don’t want a parody of leadership. They want a human being.

Someone honest.

Someone consistent.

Someone real.

You don’t build trust by pretending. You build it by showing up with all your quirks and contradictions intact.

So here’s your permission slip: Be weird. Be you.

Wear the t-shirt.

Skip the corporate filter.

Say what you mean.

Lead by example.

Authenticity is your superpower. Own it.

Read the full post on LeadDon'tCtrl for the full breakdown.