Leading with Heart: My Journey to Authentic Leadership

When I was promoted to team lead, I thought leadership meant having all the answers and never showing weakness. As an ESFJ, I naturally wanted to take care of everyone, but I was trying to do it by being perfect instead of being human. My team was struggling with a difficult project, and instead of acknowledging the challenges, I kept pushing positivity and reassurance. "We've got this!" became my default response to every concern. But I could see the stress in their faces, and morale was dropping. Everything changed during a one-on-one with my most experienced team member. She said, "We know you care about us, but we need you to be real with us. We can handle the truth." It was a gentle but firm reminder that authentic care sometimes means sharing difficult realities. I started being more transparent about challenges while still maintaining my supportive nature. Instead of "We've got this," I began saying, "This is tough, but we'll figure it out together." I shared my own uncertainties and asked for their input on solutions. The shift was remarkable. My team started bringing problems to me earlier instead of trying to hide them. They felt safe to express concerns and offer creative solutions. We became stronger not despite our vulnerabilities, but because we acknowledged them together. Leadership as an ESFJ isn't about being the perfect caretaker – it's about creating an environment where people feel genuinely supported, which sometimes means being vulnerable yourself. The best way to take care of others is to be authentically present with them, struggles and all.