21.05.2026 • 24 Min.

Authentic leadership has been one of the biggest ideas in modern leadership development. More than twenty years of it, and we haven't ended up with more genuine leaders. In this closing episode of Season 1, I trace how modern authentic leadership movement focused the search for authenticity too much on self-awareness and self-discovery and missed that authenticity in leadership is built in relation with others. At the same time, the organisations leaders work in shape what shows up in the role through what they reward, allow, and tolerate. The two together are what we end up watching: a workplace performance most of us recognise far too well. I reframe authentic leadership as something we practise in tune with ourselves and the world around us. And I walk back through the six foundational topics of this season to show how each one helps a leader to stay in genuine connection with the people they lead. Season 2 starts 2 June with psychological safety.