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The Vulnerability Trap: How ‘Authenticity’ Became a Leadership Gimmick
You ever open up, share the raw stuff, tell your story—then realize it felt more staged than real?
In today’s episode, host Shawn Michael calls out the fake “realness” epidemic in “The Vulnerability Trap: How ‘Authenticity’ Became a Leadership Gimmick.” If you’ve ever felt pressured to share struggles for the sake of optics, this conversation will hit hard—and free you to lead from true power.
🎯 What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
- Why vulnerability without risk isn’t real—it’s manipulation
- How performative authenticity cheapens real trust
- What it means to share for service, not for show
✅ This Episode Will Help You:
- Spot when your “sharing” is actually self-abandonment
- Check your motive before opening up
- Use your real story to build connection, not currency
If you loved today’s episode, here are some ways to take the next step:
- Share this episode with a friend or colleague ready to align their actions with their values.
- Subscribe to Daily Power Boost for more insights and tools to help you grow and thrive.
- Join the R.E.A.L. Mastery™ Hub – Your Space for Transformation, Mastery, and Growth! HERE
- Engage with me online:
- Instagram: @coachshawnmichael
- TikTok: @coachshawnmichael
- YouTube: @coachshawnmichael
- LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala
BONUS RESOURCES
Ready to take your growth to the next level? Book a no-cost Success Blockers Call with me.
Your feedback means the world to me! Subscribe, leave a review, or comment with your biggest takeaway from today’s episode.
📌 On the Next Episode:
“Your Goals Are the Problem: Why Chasing More is Keeping You Stuck”—where we’ll expose how even your dreams can trap you if they’re rooted in a limiting identity.
✨ Reflection Prompts
Go deeper than the performance. These questions will sharpen your real leadership:
- Spot: Where are you sharing struggles more to be liked than to be true?
- Check: What’s your real motive when you open up in leadership spaces?
- Shift: How can you share from the healed scar, not the fresh wound?
- Leadership Check: Are you building trust—or just building brand?
🏃♂️ Exercises
Use these to rebuild your leadership voice this week:
- Spot Step (10 minutes): Journal one time you shared “authentically” but later realized it wasn’t fully true to you. What tipped you off?
- Check Move (5 minutes): Before your next post, speech, or share—ask: “Am I doing this for impact or applause?” Name it.
- Shift Lift (1 day): Share one insight you’ve earned (not just endured)—something that could light the path for someone else.
- Anchor Cue (Ongoing): Use the mantra: “I share to serve, not to sell.” every time you feel the temptation to posture.
Get full access to True North: Your guide to an intentional life at trunorth.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By ShawnYou ever open up, share the raw stuff, tell your story—then realize it felt more staged than real?
In today’s episode, host Shawn Michael calls out the fake “realness” epidemic in “The Vulnerability Trap: How ‘Authenticity’ Became a Leadership Gimmick.” If you’ve ever felt pressured to share struggles for the sake of optics, this conversation will hit hard—and free you to lead from true power.
🎯 What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
- Why vulnerability without risk isn’t real—it’s manipulation
- How performative authenticity cheapens real trust
- What it means to share for service, not for show
✅ This Episode Will Help You:
- Spot when your “sharing” is actually self-abandonment
- Check your motive before opening up
- Use your real story to build connection, not currency
If you loved today’s episode, here are some ways to take the next step:
- Share this episode with a friend or colleague ready to align their actions with their values.
- Subscribe to Daily Power Boost for more insights and tools to help you grow and thrive.
- Join the R.E.A.L. Mastery™ Hub – Your Space for Transformation, Mastery, and Growth! HERE
- Engage with me online:
- Instagram: @coachshawnmichael
- TikTok: @coachshawnmichael
- YouTube: @coachshawnmichael
- LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala
BONUS RESOURCES
Ready to take your growth to the next level? Book a no-cost Success Blockers Call with me.
Your feedback means the world to me! Subscribe, leave a review, or comment with your biggest takeaway from today’s episode.
📌 On the Next Episode:
“Your Goals Are the Problem: Why Chasing More is Keeping You Stuck”—where we’ll expose how even your dreams can trap you if they’re rooted in a limiting identity.
✨ Reflection Prompts
Go deeper than the performance. These questions will sharpen your real leadership:
- Spot: Where are you sharing struggles more to be liked than to be true?
- Check: What’s your real motive when you open up in leadership spaces?
- Shift: How can you share from the healed scar, not the fresh wound?
- Leadership Check: Are you building trust—or just building brand?
🏃♂️ Exercises
Use these to rebuild your leadership voice this week:
- Spot Step (10 minutes): Journal one time you shared “authentically” but later realized it wasn’t fully true to you. What tipped you off?
- Check Move (5 minutes): Before your next post, speech, or share—ask: “Am I doing this for impact or applause?” Name it.
- Shift Lift (1 day): Share one insight you’ve earned (not just endured)—something that could light the path for someone else.
- Anchor Cue (Ongoing): Use the mantra: “I share to serve, not to sell.” every time you feel the temptation to posture.
Get full access to True North: Your guide to an intentional life at trunorth.substack.com/subscribe