You Don’t Need to Be Perfect—You Just Need to Be Honest
Layci Nelson- Apr 30
- 2 min read
There’s a version of leadership that’s all polish and posture.
Where everything is under control.
Where every decision is well-reasoned.
Where you never let them see you sweat.
And then… there’s real leadership.
Real leadership is messy.
It’s late-night stress texts and early-morning imposter syndrome.
It’s crying in the car after a hard conversation.
It’s wondering if the team still believes in you—or if you still believe in yourself.
The truth is: leadership will break you open. But if you let it, it will also remake you into someone more grounded, more real, and far more capable of doing meaningful work.
Vulnerability ≠ Oversharing
We’ve confused vulnerability with telling everyone everything. But the deepest kind of vulnerability isn’t a dramatic confession—it’s a quiet risk.
“Vulnerability isn’t oversharing. It’s offering the parts of yourself that might not be received.”
It’s saying what you actually think when silence would be easier. It’s asking for what you need even when it might not be met. It’s choosing to connect, even when you’d rather protect.
Oversharing is a defense mechanism. Vulnerability is an invitation.
And when leaders model it, it unlocks something powerful: trust.
Systems Over Goals
You don’t rise to the level of your dreams.
You fall to the level of your systems.
We all love a good goal-setting session. But let’s be real: your team doesn’t feel your intentions—they feel your habits.
So ask yourself:
🛠 How do you run meetings?
🧭 How do you respond when a team member makes a mistake?
🎯 How do you follow up (or not) on what you say matters?
Leadership isn't just what you believe—it's what you repeatedly do.
If your systems aren’t reinforcing your values, your culture will always drift.
People Before Performance
We like to think we can separate people stuff from productivity stuff. But here’s the truth no spreadsheet can capture:
The emotional health of your team is directly tied to their performance.
You cannot spreadsheet your way around disconnection.
You cannot Asana-board your way past mistrust.
And you definitely cannot KPI your way out of a toxic culture.
People need more than clarity—they need connection.
They need more than strategy—they need to feel safe.
They need to know they matter more than just what they produce.
What If This Is the Real Work?
What if the work isn’t about being the smartest person in the room? What if it’s not about being the most efficient, most productive, most right?
What if the work is:
Staying calm when things go sideways
Being curious when emotions run high
Remaining connected, even when it would be easier to check out
Calm. Curious. Connected.
That’s what we teach in our workshops—and it’s what we practice in our leadership.
You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be honest. With yourself. With your people. With what you’re settling for. And with what you’re truly capable of.
Need help getting there?
That’s what we’re here for. Our leadership training, coaching, and workshops exist to help you and your team move from chaos to clarity—together.
📍 Or reach out and let’s talk about where your leadership is ready to evolve.
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